Zapu rubbishes Dabengwa critic

Politics
ZAPU yesterday dismissed its former executive council member Tichaona Revai Sithole as power-hungry after he claimed to have quit the party.

ZAPU yesterday dismissed its former executive council member Tichaona Revai Sithole as power-hungry after he claimed to have quit the party. CHIEF REPORTER

Sithole last Saturday told journalists in Masvingo that he had quit as youth chairperson because Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa had dictatorial tendencies.

But Zapu information, publicity and marketing secretary Mjobisa Noko said Sithole had not been an active member of the party for sometime.

Noko said Sithole was never Zapu’s youth leader, but a power-hungry individual who had failed to grasp party principles.

He said Sithole had expelled himself from the party in 2011.

“It’s unfortunate that Sithole has chosen to mislead the people that he has suddenly quit Zapu,” Noko said.

“He was never our member dating back to 2011. He was not attending national executive council meetings and as such he expelled himself.

“He only surfaced last year during the elections and forced his way to be the Masvingo Central candidate resulting in Zapu fielding two candidates.

“We wonder why the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission admitted him as a candidate.”

He said Sithole was part of close to 200 members who officially defected to Zanu PF in September 2013.

“As Zapu, we remain focused and not shaken by this non-event. He was always disgruntled and threatening to quit,” he said.

“Sithole was after positions which he was failing to land.

“The youths there (Masvingo) rejected him after he attempted to impose himself on them as their leader. He is over aged.”