DISGRUNTLED former PF Zapu members are expected to meet in Bulawayo tomorrow in a bid to revive the party that signed a unity accord with Zanu PF in 1987.
Sources close to the move to reanimate the party said they wanted to leave Zanu PF because it had failed to address the concerns of the Matabeleland region.Last week, a meeting called by the ex-PF Zapu members failed to take place after Vice-President Joseph Msika who was expected to be the guest of honour failed to turn up at White City Stadium. “The meeting last week was sabotaged by people like (Information minister) Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, but we are reviving PF Zapu soon,” a former senior member of PF Zapu said. “We are having a meeting this weekend to map out the way forward.”Last Saturday’s meeting was attended by the former PF Zapu’s military wing Zipra’s intelligence supremo Dumiso Dabengwa, Zanu PF politburo members Ndlovu and Thenjiwe Lesabe, and Bulawayo provincial chairperson McLeod Chawe.Former Zipra cadres, however, called for a private meeting after Msika failed to turn up and expressed anger that the Zanu PF government was sideling them.The Zipra members have since formed their own war veterans organisations – Zipra Veterans Association – chaired by retired army Colonel Ray Ncube.The ex-PF Zapu members said they were also not happy because President Robert Mugabe did not consult them when he entered into negotiations with the two formations of the MDC.
By Loughty DubeÂ
