Msika replacement is straight forward

Opinion — By on August 28, 2009 10:17 am

By John Mahlangu

Please allow me some space in your paper to correct certain perceptions that are being created especially on the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) in unity and the current discussion on the replacement of the late Hon. Joseph MSIKA, Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Second Secretary of ZANU PF.
 
The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) in Unity With Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU)
 
Dr. Joshua Mqabuko NKOMO, led his party as its President and Commander in Chief of former ZIPRA forces into signing a Unity Accord with ZANU to form ZANU PF, on 22 December 1987 marking an end of an era that was started by the external wings of ZAPU and ZANU 15 years ago in March 1972. These outstanding Revolutionaries and National Heroes of the Armed Struggle the majority of whom were dead including Jason MOYO, Rogers MANGENA, and others brokered the unity between the two political parties.
 
There is no senior politician or senior military commanders from both parties and their military wings who was around during that period was not involved in those unity talks.There is no living Zimbabwean who is more revolutionary than most of our dead Comrades from both ZAPU and ZANU. We all wish to be like them and continue to defend what they sacrificed their lives for. President MUGABE has called for rededicating ourselves to the principles of the revolution as guided by those Heroes. In fact actions by some of us suggest otherwise that they have abandoned them as musks have been removed from the faces.
 
It is also important to stress here that the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) was a military wing of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU). It was subordinated to the party and its leadership but was not co-leading the armed struggle. It never Hubbard tendencies of overthrowing or giving orders to the leadership. Therefore there is no genuine former ZIPRA carder who would today want to defy NKOMO’S orders by demanding that the unity he signed as  Commander-in-Chief be discussed. In the Military orders are not discussed they are fulfilled and made to succeed. Having said the above, the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) remains in Unity with the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) under the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) as signed on 22 December 1987.
 
The perception that suggests that ZAPU has withdrawn from the Unity Accord of 22 December 1987, was misleading and reactionary. This is an insult to Dr. NKOMO who was a national leader and other revolutionaries.If he did not want the Unity he had signed he could have mentioned to some one from  his people who constantly visited him in hospital. Instead he emphasized more for the maintenance of the unity that had been achieved. The biggest problem facing Matebeleland which must be addressed very urgently is that most leaders from that region were self centered and very individualistic and have nothing to do with their people.

You will find the majority of of influential people either are serving the interests of others as stepping stones or they keep to themselves. That is where the problem lies not in the Unity Accord. The Unity Accord is suppose to work for you. If you cant make it work for you, then consult  O JZ labo MANGENA they will come out with a solution.
 
The Replacement of Vice President MSIKA:
 
There is so much talk about the replacement of the late Vice-President of the Republic and Second Secretary of ZANU PF and leader of ZAPU in unity the Hon.  Dr.Joseph MSIKA whom the country was still mourning, yet some leaders were already positioning themselves to replace him including some of the most bizzar names have been mentioned. “Zviroto” and “Ukuwhumana kuvunyelwe”. as the President has said.
 
President Robert MUGABE as President of the Republic and First Secretary of ZANU deputized by Simon MZENDA Vice-Preident of the Republic and Second Secretary of ZANU signed the Unity Accord with Dr. Joshua Mqabuko NKOMO, in his capacity as President of ZAPU and Vice-President of the Republic deputized by Joseph MSIKA, Vice-President of ZAPU. The four (4) constituted the Presidium in the newly formed united ZANU PF.
 
When the leader of ZAPU in unity Dr. NKOMO died, Joseph MSIKA replaced him as leader of ZAPU and Vice-President of the Republic and Second Secretary of ZANU PF and the Hon. John NKOMO moved in as member of the Presidium as National Chairman of ZANU PF and practically assuming the position of Vice-President of ZAPU in unity. And when Dr. MZENDA died, he was replaced by the Hon. Joice MUJURU, assuming the position of Vice-President of the Republic and of ZANU in unity and Second Secretary of ZANU PF. 
 
Now the current leader of ZAPU in unity, Dr. Joseph MSIKA has died, it is logical that his deputy from ZAPU in unity the Hon. John NKOMO replaces him as leader of ZAPU in unity, and someone senior from ZAPU in unity replaces the Hon. John NKOMO as Vice-President of the party and a member of the Presidium.
 
The Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) had a well defined leadership structure. Those in line according to seniority are; the Hon. Naison Khutshwekhaya NDLOVU, who was ZAPU’S National Chairman, should be automatically considered as a replacement to the Hon. NKOMO as National Chairman. The other senior member of ZAPU was the Hon. Welshman MABHENA who was Secretary General of the party who replaced the Hon. Cephas MSIPA who switched sides. But MABHENA has been very quiet. The Hon. O. MPOFU long ceased to be a member of ZAPU. In 1985 general elections he stood as a ZANU PF candidate for Hwange/Tsholotsho constituency; while the Hon. Cain MATHEMA also ceased to be a member of ZAPU in 1970.
 
Finally I would like to appeal to the people of Matebeleland from all political persuasions to stop being OPHEKE-YAKHE and make themselves available.
 
John Mahlangu
Strategic Studies

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