ZAPU'S Europe squables spill into South Africa

Cyril Ndebele

Squabbles and power struggles haunting ZAPU’s Europe province have spilled into their South Africa province.

In a clear indication, the South African run website of the party run from South Africa has published a contradicting statement to the one published on ZAPU’s Europe website www.zapu.org.uk

Squabbles and power struggles haunting ZAPU’s Europe province have spilled into their South Africa province. In a clear indication, the South African run website of the party run from South Africa has published a contradicting statement to the one published on ZAPU’s Europe website www.zapu.org.uk

In a statement published on www.zapu.org.uk , a meeting called by an elder Jabavu Mpofu is described as an illegal meeting sighting reasons that Jabavu is not a member of ZAPU. Jabavu was appointed to chair a council of elders in Europe by former speaker of parliament, Cyril Ndebele, who chairs the national elders’ council. Members of ZAPU in Europe have however not accepted the appointment of Jabavu and Mr Trademan Moyo as they are not registered members of ZAPU.

In a show of solidarity with Jabavu, and move that has caused total confusion and sucked the South African webmaster and the South African run website into the squabble, Jabavu’s meeting has been advertised and branded a legitimate ZAPU meeting. The notice invites members to attend.

Five members we spoke to have indicated that they will not be attending Jabavu’s meeting. They said it would be ridiculous and unconstitutional to be addressed by non members. “ZAPU business cannot be done by ZANU members” said a Mr Moyo form London. “Who ever appointed this man when he is not a member to chair such an important body of the party must be taken to task” he added. It is not known how Jabavu acting in his personal capacity has called the meeting.

ZAPU’s Europe province has been engulfed in a power struggle and squabbles since Nicholas Ndebele and Magonya were booted out of the UK executive for incompetence. Directives issued by the Bulawayo based national executive have not been implemented by the council of elders who have sought to reinstate Magonya and Ndebele landing the party into chaos.

On the 3rd of October 2009 11 of UK’s 12 districts gathered and elected a new provincial executive led by Dr Ralph Mguni which has been making inroads and significant progress. It is understood that the executive has managed to fund raise significant amounts of money and is now sponsoring party projects in Bulawayo.

Efforts to contact Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, the national chairperson of ZAPU were fruitless as his mobile phone was on voice mail for the greater part of the Friday.