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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE African People’s Union (Zapu) vice-president Emilia Mukaratirwa has resigned from the party due to institutional challenges. Mukaratirwa said she had resigned both from her position and the party, but had not been forced out by anyone in the party led by Dumiso Dabengwa. “The leadership as well as the generality of the members wished we could continue. There’s no such thing as being forced out or a fall-out,” she said.

“During my term of office, there were instances where I would face certain challenges in executing my party duties. Let’s just say challenges in terms of institutional capacity, you then find such challenges creeping into family issues.”

The party’s alternate secretary-general, Strike Mkandla, in a statement yesterday, confirmed Mukaratirwa’s resignation.
Mukaratirwa allegedly turned down requests from the party leadership to postpone her departure until the holding of the next congress in June. Zapu has been forced to reschedule its elective congress for the second time due to financial challenges.

“Mukaratirwa felt that she couldn’t continue beyond the term limit as she had long decided that her personal circumstances couldn’t be combined with continued responsibility. The Zapu NEC at its meeting on February 6, 2016, accepted Mukaratirwa’s agonising decision and heaped praise on her hard work, commitment to team work and ability to work with all levels of the party,” said Mkandla.

The Dabengwa-led party, which was formed in 2008, has found the going tough in the country’s political terrain. The party is yet to win a single parliamentary seat.