Rebellion from within

Why Zanu-PF is facing a fierce challenge from its own ranks

Much like its counterpart in South Africa, Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party is facing an internal split. In Zimbabwe's Matabeleland region, one of the poorest in the country, determined efforts are being made to revive PF-Zapu, the party disbanded 20 years ago.

PF-Zapu, led by legendary freedom fighter Dr. Joshua Nkomo, was once a formidable rival to Mugabe's gang. But in December 1988 Nkomo was persuaded to allow his party to be absorbed by Zanu-PF in the interests of national unity. It was a grim mistake, as Nkomo came to realise, and he died in 1999 a disappointed man.

Many of his colleagues remain politically active within Zimbabwe, and this year's elections and the long-drawn-out negotations which have followed them, have led to these veterans feeling sidelined and frustrated.

A series of meetings, aimed at the re-formation of PF-Zapu, have been taking place in Matabeleland, and these culminated in a big gathering at the White City stadium in Bulawayo last Saturday.

Joseph Msika, once Nkomo's deputy and now a vice-president, was invited to the meeting, and it was hoped he would agree to lead the newly-formed party. But Msika failed to show - possibly because Zanu-PF, worried at these developments, has set up a commission of enquiry to find out what exactly is going on.

Someone who did turn up was Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, who heads the commission, and who is also, ironically, a former senior member of PF-Zapu. He tried to get the crowd to chant Zanu-PF slogans, and was roundly booed for his pains.

Another notable presence was that of former minister and politburo member Dumiso Dabengwa, who formally offered to lead the new party. Dabengwa resigned from Zanu-PF back in February, in order to campaign for the failed presidential bid of another former minister, Simba Makoni.

Are these manoevres a serious threat to Robert Mugabe and his party? MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai may well be reminding himself this week of the principal of divide and conquer. If Zanu-PF divides itself...who knows?

Comments

[RMacleod]

Taking into account the most recent posts, cholera strikes, mediums fight for Mugabe, security forces meltdown etc, the four horsemen of Apocalypse are certainly riding high across Zimbabwe.

These latest developments including the reported spats between ex zanla and zapu so called war veterans may indicate civil war is not too far away!

[Bulawegian]

Two things puzzle me in your description of Matabeleland as one of the 'poorest' in the country.

On what factual basis are you making this 'poorest' claim, what figures per capita income etc. I and many others would be interested to know. Or have you made this up.

Secondly are you defining 'Matabeleland region' in geographical or political (provincial) terms?
In either case no such thing exists unless you have defined it into existence, in which case the only other region in Zimbabwe logically is Mashonaland. Puzzling isn't it.

We've many urgent problems in Zimbabwe, sloppy journalism we could do without.