Zimpapers Logo

Patrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Professor Callistus Ndlovu has singled out tribalism as a disease eating away unity in the party.
Addressing a well-attended inter-district meeting at Stanley Square in Bulawayo on Sunday, Prof Ndlovu said tribalism should be done away with urgently. He said poor relations between former Zanu and Zapu members in the province had to be addressed as well.
“There are challenges which we are facing here and I think they are bigger than other provinces. Here people see themselves as Shona or Ndebele at the expense of the party. We want this to come to an end. We should see each other as the children of Zanu-PF. The party should come first before tribal lines. First is Zanu-PF,” he said.

Prof Ndlovu said some cadres still identified themselves as former Zanu and Zapu, a situation he said had led to disharmony and disunity among party members in the province.

“We hear of old Zapu members holding meetings in private. Why?” he asked.
“We are one party Zanu-PF founded by our fathers President Mugabe and the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo. We should stand by this party and desist from working against the leadership chosen by the people.”

He said the party was working on restructuring of cell/village and branch executive committees before holding district elections.
He said:

“I ask you to listen, to follow the party’s standing rules all the time. We received a circular from Harare although late that we should restructure the cell/village and branches and we are starting that process in earnest. Let’s be concerned about restructuring our party.”

Prof Ndlovu said after the restructuring exercise, authentic districts and party leaders will be known adding that will also be used in the election of leaders.
“We are working towards taking back the seats we lost to the opposition and we therefore need serious-minded people, not people who want to abuse positions. We don’t want corrupt leaders, leaders who take others as slaves by bribing them with money for votes. We don’t want that. We want leaders who follow the party’s standing orders,” he said.

“We want to build a party and we are going to do it. So when you go back to your districts start talking about unity, integration and the construction of cells/village and branch structures following the constitution of the party.”

Prof Ndlovu castigated some unscrupulous party leaders whom he said were going around asking for personal donations using the name of the party.
Meanwhile, over 10 elderly women and men aged over 90 years were given blankets, money and shoes by the Bulawayo provincial leadership. They include Elina Banda, 94, who said she went to school with President Mugabe at Kutama.

Also in attendance was Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Bulawayo, Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, and fellow Politburo members Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, Cde Angeline Masuku, among other party leaders from the province.