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Interview with the ZAPU Presidential Aspirant - Thulani Nkala

07 Nov 2015 at 14:53hrs | Views
Thulani Nkala
ZAPU will be holding its historical 10th National Congress on 18th to 21st December 2015, in what promises to be an exciting elective Congress as it looks like as if all the positions will be heavily contested. I, Dumisani Ngulube (DN) met one of the aspiring candidates, Thulani Nkala (TN). Thulani Nkala is little known in the Zimbabwe political landscape, however, he has caused a storm since declaring his interest to contest for the position of ZAPU President. Some think that he is too radical who poses a threat to national unity and harmony; however, some argue that his vision is what Zimbabwe in general and ZAPU in particular needs in levelling the political landscape and resetting the button of fairness and promotion of respect of diversity. The following is an excerpt of an interview we had with him.

DN: Who is Thulani Nkala?

TN: I am a visionary, with reflective intelligence and my greatest strength is the ability to identify talent and deploy it accordingly. I can engage easily with political stakeholder groups for winning political 'electability' and positioning the party for a crucial dispensation. I am also motivated and driven, and can enthuse others to achieve their best and to inspire others. I also have the diplomatic flair to be able to position Zapu as a serious party internationally; this is the work which we have already started. With a proper team in place, which I am confident I can identify and build, the party is bound for greater and dizzy heights. There is too much talent in ZAPU, I just need to harness it and unleash it into the political stage to redefine the party's proposition for the people and to reposition and reroute the party's political trajectory. Zapu can be unbeatable. I am not afraid of challenges and I see challenges as an opportunity to influence and define a new future, direction. Zapu is at the crossroads, at this moment in time if we dream the right dreams we will achieve and produce the right outcomes. Our destiny is in our hands.
 
DN: How long have you been a member of Zapu considering that your name is not popular in Zimbabwe's political fraternity?

TN: I am aware that I am not known, but this is exactly how I want it and this shows that Zapu is a democratic party which does not sideline anybody for leadership contest. Having said that I have to say that I was born Zapu, the only time I was out of Zapu was when Zapu was forced into joining Zanu in 1987. I have joined the leadership contest because Zapu needs something different, unknown, refreshing, to be refreshed and be made fit for this modernity. And my advantage is my 'unknowness' and I intend to let my fresh new ideas grow me into a new 'normal' in which Zapu's very future and existence resides.

DN: I understand you have submitted a CV as a Zapu presidential candidate in the forthcoming congress, how are your chances considering that Dumiso Dabengwa, the incumbent Zapu President is still in charge?

TN: President Dabengwa is a democrat, and comes from a long tradition of democratic pedigree: the Zapu he currently leads and previously led by Dr J Nkomo.  When Zapu, through the leadership of DD called for this elective congress, it was to invite, not push away, contestants as happens in other political parties. You can say DD is confident of his democratic credentials, if he runs. But I am also of my own, against DD or any other contestant who may come forward. You can therefore say in putting my name forward, and in DD inviting that, we are all being truly Zapu.

DN: What made you think of taking over from Dabengwa?

TN: Firstly, I am not taking over from DD, I am contesting against DD (if he runs), and others. But if I won against DD (or others), what an honour it would be because I know I am inheriting and building forwards, and up, a party that is the mother of democracy and freedom in this country. Who better to take that from than the Black Russian!

DN: What can u say are Dabengwa's failures ever since he became president of the party?

TN: I think you asking the wrong question. Your question should be how has DD succeeded since leaving Zanu? The mere act of leaving Zanu, on its own, is a success in its own right, and who better would have led that 'divorce' than DD? Also, against many constraints, ranging from poor resources, a repressive political environment to a restrictive legal environment, DD has led ZAPU diligently to the extent it is still a party still standing today. As president I would like to build on that and take Zapu to a new level.

DN: What new things do you want to bring in the party that Dabengwa has failed?

TN: I continue with my theme above that DD has not failed but succeeded. I want to expand the membership base of the party, increase its visibility in the body politic in Zimbabwe and increase its presence in the diplomatic field. I also want to raise the profile of its policies, rework them and where necessary, change or discard some.

As I said from the beginning DD is only the present leader of a party with a long tradition of democracy and tolerance. The mother of the anti-democratic struggle in fact!. If I succeed, I am not working from DD's failures, but building on from his successes and triumphs.

DN: Thank you Mr Nkala, we wish you the best in your endeavours.

TN: Thank you Mr Ngulube.


Source - Dumisani Ngulube
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