SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
18 November 2008
The recently re-formed PF ZAPU, which broke away from ZANU PF last week, has threatened to evict the Central Intelligence Organization from Magnet House in Bulawayo, a building they are said to own.
Both ZANU PF and PF ZAPU came together under a unity accord in 1987, but power sharing talks this year between ZANU PF and the MDC have left senior PF ZAPU members feeling they've been marginalized. With virtually the entire ZANU PF Bulawayo province defecting or considering doing so, the PF ZAPU party is already flexing its muscles. A large portfolio of PF ZAPU buildings, farms and businesses were seized by ZANU PF at height of the Gukurahundi Massacres, guaranteeing further conflict.
Our correspondent Lionel Saungweme reports that former Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairman, Andrew Ndlovu (now a member of the ZIPRA Veterans Association) told a meeting of ZAPU members two weeks ago that they intend to take Magnet House back from the CIO. It's not clear whether the spy agency are tenants in the building or whether government simply allowed them to use it. Another interesting scenario will be Queens Park Police station. The building is also said to be owned by PF ZAPU. Previously it was known as the Lido Hotel and was used after the war to house injured or disabled former freedom fighters from PF ZAPU's military wing ZIPRA. PF ZAPU are also demanding the building back.
Last weekend the leaders of the group declared the unity accord 'dead and buried.' Former Home Affairs Minister Dumiso Dabengwa, war vets leader Andrew Ndlovu, Tryphine Nhliziyo the ZANU PF secretary for administration for Bulawayo Province, and publicity secretary Effort Nkomo are some of the prominent backers of the breakaway. Last Wednesday ZANU PF tasked National Chairman John Nkomo with the job of persuading the defecting PF ZAPU members to rejoin. But he did not succeed and PF ZAPU is already preparing for a consultative conference in December, which will culminate in a congress in March 2009.
After the unity accord in 1987 Mugabe refused to hand over the ZAPU and ZIPRA properties he seized in 1982. In 2004 ZANU PF claimed the properties had been returned but this was denied by PF ZAPU who said the properties remain in the hands of third parties, linked to the ruling party. The failure by government to return these properties is also one of the reasons listed by PF ZAPU for now breaking away from the unity accord. Analysts believe the emergence of the MDC and its strong support from the Matabeleland region has diluted the importance of PF ZAPU. With ZANU PF and the MDC still appearing to be in discussion about a unity government, the breakaway members might also feel this will create room for another opposition party.
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With PF-ZAPU, people of Zimbabwe must be rested assured that the party that fought for the liberisation of Zimbabwe from White Oppression. Due to Mugabe and his British cons they robbed Joshua Nkomo the fredom of Zimbabwean throwing it to the dictatorship of sturbon Mugabe and his clows. Viva Honourable Dumiso Davengwa and the Comrades for the decision you have taken