Kholwani Nyathi
4 October 2008
Harare — Zanu PF's top provincial structures have demanded an emergency PF Zapu conference to review the 1987 Unity Accord in the clearest sign yet that the ruling party could be headed for a split.
The simmering factionalism in the ruling party, which began surfacing in 1999 following the death of Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, fuelled by claims of marginalisation against Matabeleland, have intensified following the signing of the historic power-sharing deal between Zanu PF and the MDC.
Former PF Zapu officials in Zanu PF claim they were not consulted on the deal amid fears President Robert Mugabe will not accommodate them in the proposed all-inclusive government.
According to minutes of Zanu PF's Bulawayo provincial co-ordinating committee meeting held on September 13, a resolution was passed demanding the convening of the conference after it was agreed the accord had "not benefited the region".
The provincial co-ordinating committee is made up of members of the politburo, central committee, the National Consultative Assembly (NCA) and the provincial executive.
"The meeting resolved that the 1987 Unity Accord between PF Zapu and Zanu PF has not benefited the people of this region," read the minutes, certified as authentic by several ruling party sources.
"Zapu is a revolutionary party that waged its armed struggle against white supremacy through its armed wing (and) it has lost its identity.
"This cannot be let to happen forever." The meeting was held a day after Vice-President Joseph Msika complained that former Home Affairs minister Dumiso Dabengwa, who is leading the calls for PF Zapu's revival was being sidelined in the ruling party.
He reportedly said Dabengwa was an "authentic" PF Zapu cadre.
"The meeting was briefed by central committee members who had held a meeting on the previous day (September 12) with VP J W Msika," read the minutes. "One of the issues discussed was the restructuring exercise conducted by workers of the party from headquarters...the manner it was conducted in was not in line with party regulations."
The other issues raised, the minutes added, were concerns over the lack of adherence to the spirit of the 1987 Unity Accord where members of PF Zapu were not given "due and fair recognition".
Some of the examples where the officials felt they were being treated unfairly included the delays in conferring hero status on former senior PF Zapu officials such as Swazini Ndlovu, Masala Sibanda and Isaac Nyathi "yet it did not take long for people like Border Gezi and others from Zanu to be honoured".
They also complain that Misheck Chinamasa, who died last month "was a true national hero, more than many lying at the National Heroes' Acre (yet he) was only declared a provincial hero".
The meeting also complained about the alleged unfair distribution of resources, lack of progress in erecting a statue in Nkomo's memory and the neglect of Ekusileni Hospital.
The specialist hospital, a brainchild of the late Vice-President is slowly turning into a white elephant, nine years after its construction because of lack of equipment.
The delays in returning PF Zapu properties seized by the government in 1982, the failure to compensate victims of Gukurahundi and the "unfair" distribution of land in the region were also cited as some of the signs that the accord had failed.
Zanu PF commissar, Elliot Manyika was still putting on a brave face on Thursday saying reports that PF Zapu members were disgruntled were false.
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OOOOoooooh! This is spooky stuff! Morgan can you feel the presence of a spirit here, warnings of deceit and continued suffering if you capitulate to the farce.Good people stand up please.