via Zanu (PF) has eaten its own sons | The Zimbabwean 14 August 2014
Fifty one years after its formation, hardly any of the founding Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu) members remains in the party, with most of them having been muscled out along the way over power struggles.
Zanu was formed on August 8 1963 at the house belonging to the late Enos Nkala, in Highfields, then a hotbed of African nationalism.
Its founding fathers, in addition to Nkala, included Ndabaningi Sithole, Henry Hamadziripi, Mukudzei Midzi, Edgar Tekere, Leopold Takawira, Simon Muzenda and Robert Mugabe, who came in as the information and publicity secretary after a teaching stint in Takoradi, Ghana.
Others, like Nathan Shamuyarira, Didymus Mutasa, Maurice Nyagumbo and Rugare Gumbo joined the party after its formation.
Power struggles that continue in the party to date have been the hallmark of the evolution of Zanu, which was rechristened Zanu (PF) in 1980 to avoid confusion with Ndabaningi Sithole Zanu.
Nkala, the host when the party was formed following a split from the Joshua Nkomo led Zapu that had been banned by the southern Rhodesian government, fell out of favour with Zanu in the late 1990s after a vehicle scandal now known as Willowgate.
Numerous Zanu (PF) stalwarts were fingered in the scandal which involved selling cars received through a cheap government scheme at exorbitant prices.
Nkala was bitter with his muscling out over Willowgate and became critical of Mugabe and Zanu (PF). He reconciled with Mugabe shortly before his death and was buried at Heroes Acre.
Maurice Nyagumbo was controversially accused of being involved in the scandal and subsequently committed suicide, although his death was accompanied by conspiracy theories.
Rumour said he did not commit suicide, but his death was stage managed after it was discovered that he was too close to the late First Lady, Sally Mugabe. Others said Nyagumbo was, indeed, guilty of laundering cars obtained from Willowvale Motor Industry but was a front for Sally who was shipping the cars to South Africa for a huge profit.
They said Nyagumbo’s sin was that he knew too much about Sally’s involvement. Most of the founding fathers either died too soon to be buried at the Heroes’ Acre or were side-lined for their criticism of Mugabe.
Chitepo died in March 1975 when his car was blown up in Zambia in an assassination. Many alleged that he was killed by a clique in Zanu who did not want him to be leader of the party, while others said he was assassinated by Ian Smith’s Rhodesian forces.
His death came at a time when power fights in Zanu (PF) were intensifying.
Ndabaningi Sithole, who like Chitepo came from Manicaland, was deposed to make way for Mugabe and Muzenda. He later joined a transitional Zimbabwe-Rhodesia government and was seen as a sell-out by Mugabe’s party.
He then formed Zanu (Ndonga) which dismally contested the 1980 black majority elections that Zanu won with 57 seats.
At one time, Sithole was accused of attempting to assassinate Mugabe and he had to flee into exile in the US; when he returned and passed on, he was denied hero status.
Edgar Tekere was part of Zanu (PF) for more than a decade from independence but he became too critical of Mugabe and later formed the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM).
When he died, virtually a pauper and unable to buy basic medicine for himself, Zanu (PF) said he had deviated from the party’s founding values. He was, however, buried at Heroes Acre.
Tekere accompanied Mugabe into Mozambique during the liberation war, where he subsequently led the party and its military wing, Zanla.
Rugare Gumbo and Mutasa are senior members of Zanu but they have gone through dark patches in the party. Gumbo, Henry Hamadziripi and Mukudzei Midzi were jailed by Mugabe in Mozambique in 1978 for rebelling against his leadership. Hamadziripi and Midzi both died as paupers and were denied burial at Heroes Acre.
Even though Mutasa is now the Zanu (PF) secretary for administration and Gumbo secretary for information and publicity, they were side-lined from the party for lengthy periods, bouncing back only as political balancing acts along regional and factional lines.
COMMENTS
Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa are senior members, but they have gone through dark patches in the party are singing louder than others for their supper and integrity before their earthly maker creator.
not good at all thus why all these party members miss behave they no longer knowing the party doctrines
The whole lot of them are/were thieving trash. I am glad that so many died as paupers, hopefully slowly and in great pain. I surely hope that the remaining few go the same way but not too slowly.
ZANU are criminals. None can trust any other
INCEST!
Well it’s been a while since they have been to the hero place . The ground there must be dying of thirst. About time they spilled someone’s blood. It’s got to be someone really big or better still two this time with lots of blood to quench the patched earth’s thirst.
My President is Tsuro Magen’a. He has continuously dribbled past all those that surround him, thats why they treat him as if he is God. Yes he is a leader but its an abomination to worship man the way Zimbabwe does and thats why the massive suffering in the country.
My President has failed to lead this country effectively economically. He failed dismally to rise above party leadership to national leadership. He promoted corruption and mediocrity. He faned hatred and division among Zimbabweans. He was inolerant of those who had different views from him. All these traits are not traits of great leadership.
It may even be true that the Nhari rebellion was justified as they claimed the High command in Lusaka were living it up while those in the Frontline starved. Who now is to say it was not true. The great Tongo may have been misled. I think where they lost the plot is after Independence, without checks and balances to keep them in line, the leadership went on to line their pockets without reprimand. They then felt it their right to loot from the country. Forgetting those that they solicited the very lives from. A crying shame for to be sure. The ancestors they got guidance from are turning against them and very soon, all will be nothing but sad memories. My advice to ED, dismantle ZANU, give power back to the people and let them choose a worthy leader, not that Nero Mero cunt. The people deserve peace and propserity now. ED can then ride off into the sunset. After destroying the Chivhayos’ Obert Mpofu’s Supa, Chinamasa, esp Jorum Gombo, OMG, there is a special place in hell for that man. The Bona’s, Graces, and anyone in that regime that gained unlawfully. They should be stripped of their ill gotten gains and the funds used to build the country. I hear Cuthbert Dubes gains are enough to develop Nkayi…
The Nhari rebels were provoked into taking action against the leadership to give the leadership an excuse to execute them. They had to go, they were clever and intelligent and thus presented a threat to the existing leadership.