Political Reporter
In a move that underscores the persistent divisions within Zimbabwe's opposition politics, a group of disgruntled former ZAPU members has launched a new political formation called Original ZAPU (O ZAPU).
The breakaway group, led by Matthew Sibanda, claims to be reviving what they describe as the true revolutionary spirit of the original party.
The schism stems from long-simmering tensions within ZAPU, particularly surrounding the 2021 election of Sibangilizwe Nkomo, son of the late liberation icon Joshua Nkomo, as party president.
Sibanda and four other senior members from Matabeleland South province: Gideon Dlamini, Echem Nkala, Ernest Ndlovu and Mildred Mkandla were expelled in November 2022 after challenging Nkomo's victory.
The group, known as the "Mat South Five", alleged electoral irregularities, claiming Nkomo received 121 votes when only 105 delegates were registered to vote.
After exhausting internal party processes, the faction took their grievances to the Bulawayo High Court in June 2023, but their challenge was dismissed, cementing Nkomo's position.
Undeterred, Sibanda has now spearheaded the formation of O ZAPU, insisting their aim is not to create a new party but to restore what they see as ZAPU's original values.
"We are reviving the original ZAPU because the party's constitution was violated when Sibangilizwe took over the presidency," Sibanda declared during the launch in Bulawayo last Saturday.
The new party's interim leader launched scathing attacks on Nkomo's leadership, questioning both his legitimacy and competence.
Sibanda, who served as ZAPU's Matabeleland South chairperson, claimed Nkomo had never held any official position within the party's structures prior to his presidential bid.
"The ZAPU constitution is very clear that one must rise through the ranks, from branch level to national, to be eligible for leadership," he argued, suggesting Nkomo had been imposed as leader solely due to his family name.
Sibanda also pointed to ZAPU's poor electoral performance under Nkomo's leadership as evidence of the party's decline, noting its failure to field candidates in Bulawayo during recent elections.
In contrast, he pledged that O ZAPU would prioritise national development, with particular focus on infrastructure and healthcare reforms.
The launch attracted some notable figures, including representatives from the Mthwakazi Republic Party, along with ZAPU members from across the country's ten provinces.
However, political analysts remain unconvinced that this latest opposition splinter group will make any meaningful impact on Zimbabwe's political landscape.
Calvin Chitsunge, a Harare-based political analyst, observed that "Zanu PF's grassroots support remains unshaken across the country, while the opposition continues to fragment." These internal divisions only serve to strengthen the ruling party's position."
His sentiments were echoed by another political analyst, Edith Mushore, who noted that history has shown that breakaway parties in Zimbabwe rarely gain significant traction.
“The emergence of O ZAPU appears to be yet another chapter in the opposition's ongoing struggle to present a united front against Zanu PF's well-established political machinery. With the ruling Party maintaining strong rural support structures and benefiting from opposition infighting, I suggest that,unless opposition forces can overcome their differences, Zanu PF's dominance is likely to remain unchallenged in future elections,” said Mushore.
Meanwhile, as the political landscape continues to evolve, the birth of O ZAPU may prove to be more indicative of the opposition's persistent organisational challenges than any significant shift in Zimbabwe's power dynamics.
