200 ZAPU Members Defect to ZANU-PF

Joshua Nkomo of ZAPU and Robert Mugabe of ZANU, leaders of the Zimbabwe liberation struggle. This photo was taken during the revolutionary war to liberate ZImbabwe during the 1970s., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

200 Zapu members defect to Zanu-PF

September 17, 2013
Bulawayo Bureau
Zimbabwe Herald

ABOUT 200 Zapu members in Bulawayo led by the party’s senior leaders Mr Effort Nkomo and Mrs Tryphine Nhliziyo, last week re-joined Zanu-PF citing disgruntlement and lack of direction in the Dr Dumiso Dabengwa-led party. Zanu-PF national chairman Senator Simon Khaya Moyo, who was accompanied by the senior party leadership in the province, welcomed the defectors at Amakhosi Cultural Centre where they narrated their grievances.

In his address Sen Khaya Moyo said the return of the “prodigals” was a consolidation of the historic 1987 Unity Accord signed between PF-Zapu and Zanu.

“This is a great day for Bulawayo,” he said.

“We talked about this meeting in the Presidium and the party leadership is happy with what you have done. We do not want to talk about what happened in the past, but celebrate that we are united. I am not blaming you because I am aware that you were misled. I am happy that you are back home. I am sure Umdala uNkomo in his grave is smiling because you are coming back to where he left you.

“What you did is also an honour to President Mugabe. I congratulate you. The doors are still open for you to come back home. Asibuyeleni ekhaya.”

Sen Khaya Moyo reminded the gathering about how Zimbabwe fought a protracted liberation struggle under the leadership of President Mugabe and the late Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and other nationalists.

He urged the returning members to remain loyal to the party and work with the provincial leadership to mobilise support in Bulawayo.

Sen Khaya Moyo assured the nation that Zanu-PF would live up to its promises as explained in its election manifesto and urged all party members to pull in the same direction.

He said the new Zanu-PF Government would not deter from its indigenisation and empowerment thrust in its quest to transform the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans to ensure that they own the economy.

Sen Khaya Moyo challenged the party leadership in Bulawayo to work hard so that they win resoundingly in the 2018 elections.

“We want to see things changing here in Bulawayo,” he said. “Factories must be revived and I am happy President Mugabe has talked about that. You should not lose heart that you lost (parliamentary seats in Bulawayo in the harmonised elections on July 31).

“In fact you did well because the performance of the party improved this year compared to 2008. You are almost there and come the next election Bulawayo should never lose again.”

While presenting the returning members to Zanu-PF, Mr Nkomo, who took to the stage with a Zanu-PF slogan and a revolutionary song, said hundreds of people who left Zanu-PF were willing to return.