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- Written by: Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo, ZAPU President
- Category: Zimbabwe
- Hits: 34
NO TO TERM LIMITS EXTENSION FOR LOOTERS!
[Please Note: this original article was written on 29th January 2025 - see PDF download - and clearly indicates the concenrs of ZAPU at that time]
Fellow Zimbabweans, diplomats, civil society, friends of Zimbabwe, and esteemed Members of the Fourth Estate, all protocols observed. It is my singular honour to address you all gathered here and by extension the nation at large. The urgency of our national crisis cannot afford us much time in the way of pleasantries, so kindly allow me to cut to the chase.
As the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), we stand opposed to the ED2030 agenda being clamored for by Mr Mnangagwa’s loyalists and their proxies in captured opposition parties. ZAPU remains the only genuine opposition party free from any ties to ZANU PF. Ours is a government in waiting, the only viable alternative ready to rescue Zimbabwe from the rogue ZANU PF regime and its military-backed leader Mr Mnangagwa. He sneaked into power on the back of a military coup in 2017 and now seeks to extend his rule by staging another coup against the constitution of Zimbabwe. It is a treasonous ambition that no patriotic Zimbabwean should entertain.
What Mr Mnangagwa is trying to achieve is the grandfather of all illegalities. Our considered view is that the continuing chicanery dates back to 1980, when ZANU stole the people’s votes after we attained our independence from colonial rule. ZANU PF morphed into a rabid carnivore and chose to replace the colonial regime. Inspired and instructed by the Rhodesian era, ZANU PF continues to take the citizens of Zimbabwe for granted, and the people along with ZAPU and even the ancestors are fed up. During their national conference held in Bulawayo in October 2024, the ZANU PF delegates resolved first and foremost to extend Mr Mnangagwa’s presidential term from 2028 to 2030. This was done ostensibly to allow President Mnangagwa more time to oversee the fulfillment of ‘Vision 2030’,which he supposedly conceived but we all know this is not the case.
As we entered the New Year [Jan 2025], calls for the ED2030 agenda only grew louder from Mr Mnangagwa’s foot soldiers and praise singers. The Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, issued a press statement claiming that his principal,s term extension agenda reflects the will of the people and should not be criminalised. The minister in typical ZANU style, tried to intimidate Churchleaders opposed to the ED2030 agenda by labelling them Western puppets, much the same way as Mugabe labelled Catholic bishops a band of Jeremiahs for exposing the Gukurahundi massacres in the early ’80s. Echoing the same sentiments, ZANU PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, Daniel Garwe, recently said that the push for Mr Mnangagwa to remain in office is unstoppable, claiming it is the will of the people. While these wild claims are being made, Mr Mnangagwa’s silence is deafening.
Today [29th Jan 2025] we join the growing list of organizations and patriotic Zimbabweans refuting these claims by ZANU PF representatives. The list now includes genuine war veterans tired of watching in silence as the country is driven deeper into the woods by the clueless Mr Mnangagwa. We categorically reject the claims that the people of Zimbabwe wish to endure more suffering beyond 2028. Extending Mr Mnangagwa’s draconian rule beyond the constitutional limit set for 2028, amounts to the extension of industrial-scale looting, unemployment, poverty, crime and low life expectancy for Zimbabweans. Only the merchants of death and suffering can agitate for the extension of Mr Mnangagwa’s presidential term even by a week. His first term powered by a military coup and the second one secured from a stolen mandate in August 2023 have been disastrous enough for the people.
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- Written by: John Burke
- Category: Zimbabwe
- Hits: 52
RE: LETTER OF APPRECIATION - NKULUMANE BY-ELECTION
Dear Comrades, [Click Here to see Letter - opens in a new Window]
On behalf of the leadership and membership of Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), I wish to extend our sincere appreciation to all who contributed to the just-ended Nkulumane by-election. First and foremost, we commend Cde Vivian Siziba, our candidate, for his motivation, courage, and tireless commitment throughout the campaign period. His dedication and principled conduct under demanding circumstances reflect the enduring values of our Party.
We further extend our heartfelt gratitude to all comrades, supporters, and well-wishers who contributed in diverse ways, whether through active participation, material support, or words of encouragement. Every gesture, however small, strengthened the collective spirit of the campaign. Special appreciation is due to the Campaign Manager, Cde T. Mlotshwa and the foot soldiers, as well as ZAPU members who were consistently on the ground. We thank all those who turned out to vote in the Nkulumane Constituency, affirming their belief in democratic participation and party unity.
We also acknowledge the invaluable contribution of our Polling Agents, ZAWU, the Youth Front, and the broader ZAPU leadership for their steadfast support on the ground. Our sincere thanks go to the Information and Publicity Team for their sterling work, providing timely updates, videos, and reports that kept the leadership and membership fully apprised of developments throughout the by-election.
As we reflect on this experience, we do so with gratitude and pride. We look into the future with an undying resolve, to strengthen our structures, deepen grassroots engagement, and continue advancing the cause of justice, dignity, and democratic participation for our people.
With revolutionary regards,
Cde Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo
President
Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU)
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- Written by: Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo
- Category: Zimbabwe
- Hits: 80
ZAPU @ 64:
A journey of resilience and quest for true freedom
[Click Here to see Press Release in a new Window]
Today marks the 64th birthday of our beloved party, Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU). On this day back in 1961, our founding fathers formed this great party, presenting for the first time since colonization, a mainstream political formation using the name Zimbabwe. Upon that revolutionary foundation, ZAPU became the mother of nationalism, patriotism and self-determination. Yet there has never been a local party more persecuted and sabotaged than ZAPU.
On either side of our country’s independence, ZAPU suffered from state-sponsored violence, persecution and lawfare. From getting banned during our nascent years by the colonial settler regime, to having caveats against our assets soon after independence, ZAPU has been through thick and thin. Our leaders have been jailed, assassinated, denied economic opportunities and hounded into exile. Even worse, our members and supporters have also been subjected to state-sponsored violence and persecution. Between 1982 and 1987, a genocide was unleashed against hapless citizens singled out for the “crime” of being members or supporters of ZAPU. To this day, many survivors of Gukurahundi have endured post-traumatic stress disorders and debilitating fear, while those who perished or were forcefully disappeared remain unaccounted for. Current efforts by the ZANU PF regime to abuse traditional Chiefs in spearheading a massive cover-up operation, have been a total flop we saw coming. We sounded an alarm, which tragically fell on deaf ears.
As ZAPU turns 64 today, we reflect on the countless sacrifices made by all the gallant men and women who served as leaders, members and supporters of ZAPU. Many of them bore the brunt of resisting colonialism initially and later, the one-party state ZANU PF tried to establish after independence. At the cost of life and limb, ZAPU has bravely refused to allow a free pass for tyranny. During the liberation struggle, our armed wing, Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA), led from the western front to drive out the Rhodesian settler regime. Many sacrifices were made by our freedom fighters and the people of Zimbabwe who supported them. Freedom came at a high cost for them yet the independence that emerged on 18 April 1980 was soon hijacked by imposters and power-hungry individuals, who made it their life’s mission to annihilate ZAPU. In their multi-pronged strategy, they used violence to exterminate ZAPU leadership while propaganda became their weapon of choice in expunging the contributions of ZPRA towards the liberation of Zimbabwe.
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- Written by: Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo
- Category: Zimbabwe
- Hits: 65
Call for the independence of football and all sporting disciplines from manipulation
[Click here to see the President's Press Statement[Click here to see the President's Press Statement]
Sport plays a critical role in bringing our nation together. Despite our polarized political environment, we have seen Zimbabweans rising above their differences to unite under the big banner of sports, particularly football. To preserve this unifying force, we call for the independence of football and all sporting disciplines from manipulation! We cannot ignore reports of tenders and government contracts being manipulated, with the tainted proceeds of corruption being channeled into sports!
We have watched in dismay as certain football clubs receive large sums of money, reportedly from corruption in government tenders and misuse of resources by questionable people who dish out cars to celebrities when all government ministries are allocated less than 30% funds from the government budgets year in year out. The Ministry of Education, for instance, has been struggling to settle its ballooning debt to schools under the
Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), a facility meant to keep underprivileged children in school. Yet some people are splashing large sums of money on football teams!
While we welcome investment and donations towards football as a popular sport, we strongly oppose gifts that come with strings attached. Football clubs should be encouraged to generate revenue streams and operate within their means. There should be strict rules enacted and enforced by our football governing body, ZIFA. For example, the Financial Fair Play is a set of rules introduced by UEFA in 2009 to ensure European clubs operate within their means and promote fair competition. We need such rules here. The unregulated injection of hefty sums of money into cherry-picked football teams by the likes of Wicknell Chivhayo disturbs the natural flow of talent and organic growth of local football clubs. We end up having elitist clubs that are moneyed, prevailing over ordinary teams with modest financial resources.
Therefore, recipients of large cash donations – often unsolicited – should guard against meddling and direct control by their strange benefactors. Football and other sporting disciplines remain viable tools for nation-building and social cohesion. We must safeguard these tools and never allow them to be weaponized by the merchants of division. Let the glory of our players and coaches be earned through sheer hard work and not the power of shadowy benevolence.
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- Written by: Richard Gandari, ZAPU National Spokesperson
- Category: Zimbabwe
- Hits: 718
Following the by-election held in Insiza North yesterday, ZAPU takes this opportunity to thank all the voters who voted for the people’s candidate, Cde Thabani Mlotshwa, who put up a brave fight under difficult circumstances due to lack of resources and low voter turnout. We are equally grateful to our compatriots in MRP, FA and UMD for their selfless support through public endorsement of our candidate. The unity of purpose achieved in the run up to the by-election, has strengthened our resolve to intensify our call for a national convergence dialogue that will produce a united democratic front. United as opposition parties, we can work to dislodge the hegemony of ZANU PF.
Thank you to all our ZAPU members and supporters who made great sacrifices in support of our ambitious electoral bid. Special mention goes to the dedicated campaign team and our courageous polling agents. Your contributions in many different ways gave ZAPU a fighting chance in the by-election. Above all, we are grateful to our heroic candidate, Cde Mlotshwa, who entered the race rather late but stood firm in determination and focus. We are fully behind you Cde Mlotshwa and will continue to build upon your experience. Under your guidance, ZAPU shall continue to work on developmental projects with the people of Insiza North.
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Zimbabwe ZAPU MP's
List of Zimbabwe Zapu MP's currently sitting in Parliament
