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Time to Reclaim our Country from Tyranny and Economic Decay
[Click Here to See the Press PDF in full]
As we return to work after the festive season, we are quickly reminded of our unfinished business from last year. Our efforts to challenge the shadowy Chief-led Gukurahundi Outreach Programme continue as we work with our compatriots under the large banner of the Gukurahundi Genocide Alliance. Support from concerned citizens, the church and civic society remains our greatest motivation for staying the course in our quest for restorative justice, closure and healing for the victims of Gukurahundi. We maintain our principled position that any dialogue around Gukurahundi cannot be led or determined by the de facto perpetrator of the 1982-1987 genocide.
In our unity of purpose, we shall line up a number of events to build national consensus around this painful wound that has remained without redress for so long. We shall also approach SADC and other peacebuilding regional bodies to assist us in our fight to be heard by the deaf regime in Harare. Although the Gukurahundi genocide had its epicenter in the Matabeleland region, it had far-reaching effects across Zimbabwe. In many parts of Zimbabwe, ZAPU members and leaders were killed, harassed, dispossessed of their property, abducted and forcefully disappeared by suspected state security agents. Our party was effectively outlawed and forcefully incapacitated. To this day we are still struggling to rebuild ZAPU as the state remains unwilling to lift the caveats placed on our assets by the then Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Mr Robert Mugabe. Spirited efforts to reclaim our stolen properties have invariably hit brick walls as the ZANU PF regime fears the resurgence of a well-resourced ZAPU.
Since last year, Zimbabwe has witnessed unprecedented levels of corruption with a connected few looting from our national coffers through murky tenders awarded by public officials. The vice of corruption has been exacerbated by the ineptitude and unwillingness of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to fulfill its constitutional mandate. As a nation we have been let down by the ZACC whose flagship function is to fight corruption. We have seen very few and flimsy cases prosecuted with even fewer convictions for corruption. This has emboldened lawless individuals to double down on their corrupt dealings. We hereby call for the disbanding of the ZACC as an organization. It is a waste of taxpayers’ money and a cumbersome tower of incompetence. As Zimbabweans let us reimagine a new autonomous organization to fight corruption competently. If the recent public pronouncements by the acting-President Constantine Chiwenga are sincere enough, then the government he leads should act on his command to eradicate corruption and dismantle cartel networks.
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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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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.
