The Opposition Party, Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) launched a successful campaign in their journey to what they term “reviving ZAPU” as the part’s South African Province structure successfully conducted its congress to elect new leadership.
The event was held over two phases due to the COVID-19 regulations, thus the policy deliberations were completed on the 21st of March 2021.
According to the party’s statement, the much contested congress which drew a lot of interests and contestants was held to fill some executive posts including the “Chairperson, Vice chairperson, Secretary for Administration, Treasurer, and Organizing Secretary”.
“The ZAPU RSA Provincial Executive Chairperson position was tightly contested with Cde Chief Dube narrowly beating Cde Cannicious Nkala to the position with just one vote, a contest which also saw ex-ZPRA veteran Cde Petros Moyo also throwing his hat into the ring.”
The Provincial Secretary and Administration post was scooped by Godfrey Viki, what was also a major highlight of the event.
The congress which was held at Booysens Hotel, Johannesburg, Gauteng was well attended by delegates from the from the Western Cape ,Limpopo, Gauteng ,Mpumalanga and KZN.
“The State of the Province -Organisational and Political Report was delivered by the outgoing chairperson
Cde Bongani Halimana , informed members of the continuous growth by the party and its objectified
political aim of covering all the provinces being well within reach within the set timeframe,” read the statement.
The party was pleased by the continuous growth of the party which was a sign that “the people have faith in the party despite weak propaganda attempts to derail its organisational compactness, its values, principles and structured approach to political and economic issues.“
Adding to that, Major Sibanda who is the outgoing long serving Treasurer who had held the position for 8 years gave an insightful highlight of the provincial finances during the congress.
The statement also added that “Mpondo , the NPC Chairperson , provided the much needed guidance on Constitutional and Policy matters.“
The newly elected ZAPU RSA province structure vowed to continue to grow the party and also lining up to roll its monilisation and recruitment programme.
The major aim of this diaspora membership drive is to “translate membership into votes in the respective constituencies at home through raising the level of political consciousness.”
According to the now RSA Province’s Secretary for Information & Publicity Cannicious Nkala, who lost the presidency to Chief Dube said as a party they are “motivated to see devolution of power” and they will be “lobbying embassies to also devolve.”
Concluding, Nkala said “we are looking at devolution as a tool to building provincial and district economic power houses.”