Dabengwa attacks renewal team

via Dabengwa attacks renewal team – DailyNews Live 15 November 2014 by Jeffrey Muvundusi

BULAWAYO – Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa has taken a dig at the Sekai Holland-led renewal team whom he accused of building their empire using treacherous means.

Dabengwa told journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club on Thursday that the renewal team was a partner negotiating in bad faith.

“The renewal team has been on a recruitment drive in the provinces to drum up its support during this period of consultation,” Dabengwa said.

“Reports received indicate that the teams are informing people that our parties have merged under the renewal banner. They then form structures by misinforming our members,” he said.

“We condemn such acts of dishonesty and call on our partners to exercise self-restraint and negotiate in good faith. Trust is vital in any relationship and we would like to believe we are going into a coalition with partners of integrity and honesty.”

Renewal team provincial spokesperson Edwin Ndlovu dismissed the reports as untrue.

“That cannot be true,” said Ndlovu.

“We are not poachers who poach members from Zapu. Of late we have been targeting people who have retired from politics and not Zapu members.

“It’s very unfortunate that Dabengwa views it that way but we have made our position known that we are calling for all democrats to join us in forming the grand coalition and Dabengwa is one of those we are trying to engage,” he said.

Dabengwa, however, set the record straight regarding recent reports that Zapu was one of the parties likely to form the so-called coalition of democrats.

“Zapu is not part of those merger talks between (Welshman) Ncube and (Tendai) Biti and while wishing them well in that endeavour will not be active party to the signing of any agreement between them,” he said.

The former Zipra intelligence supremo, however, hailed the proposed coalition of democrats as a positive step towards the democratisation of Zimbabwe.

“Zapu views the proposed coalition of democrats as an opportunity to establish a democratic state in Zimbabwe that will seek to actively develop the country for the benefit of its people,” he said.

However, Dabengwa said the proposed coalition for democrats should not view the removal of the current regime as a primary objective as doing so would be defeating the whole purpose of a democratic transition.

The former Home Affairs minister, who for a long time has snubbed journalists on commenting about the succession battle currently taking place in Zanu PF, finally opened up.

“We feel the lack of a clear policy and lack of respect of constitutionalism have led to those events. Organisations are governed by constitutions which should reflect the values of the organisation. If the constitution is subverted to fulfil individuals desires, chaos will ensure when the time to reckon comes.”