Disgruntled former Zapy members yesterday unveiled a new political party to be known as the (Original) O Zapu at a colourful event held in Bulawayo.
The new party is led by Mathew Sibanda, one of the former senior Zapu officials expelled in 2022 after opposing Sibangilizwe Nkomo’s candidacy for the Zapu presidency. Sibangilizwe is the son of the party’s founding leader and former vice president, the late Joshua Nkomo.
Following their expulsion, Sibanda and five other members, collectively referred to as the “Mat South Five” challenged Sibangilizwe’s nomination and election in court.
However, High Court judge Justice Bongani Ndlovu dismissed their case in 2021, upholding both Sibangilizwe’s nomination and subsequent election during the party's elective congress.
Speaking at the launch, Sibanda insisted that Sibangilizwe’s election had violated Zapu’s constitution.
“In fact, we are not forming a new party. We are reviving the original Zapu because the party’s constitution was violated when Sibangilizwe took over the presidency,” said Sibanda, who now serves as interim president of O Zapu.
Sibanda alleged that Sibangilizwe was not a card-carrying member at the time of his election and had never served in any official party structures.
“I was Zapu’s chairperson for Matabeleland South, and I can confirm that Sibangilizwe was not in any structures in the province. The Zapu constitution is very clear, one must rise through the ranks, from branch level to national, in order to hold office,” he said.
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“He was simply imposed because he is the son of the party’s late commander.”
Sibanda further accused the Zapu president of forging his membership credentials to qualify for the leadership contest.
He also claimed that under Sibangilizwe’s leadership, Zapu had strayed from its founding ideals and lost relevance.
“During the previous elections, the party failed to field candidates for both council and parliamentary seats in Bulawayo. Even the president himself did not contest,” he said.
Sibanda promised to prioritise infrastructure development and revamp the country’s ailing healthcare system if O Zapu is elected into power.
The launch was also attended by Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) vice president Sibongile Banda and the party’s Secretary for Legal Affairs, Nkosilathi Khanye. Delegates from all ten provinces were present at the event. Stylish Magida is the interim secretary general of the party.
