adminKamangeni Phiri Midlands Bureau
BATTLELINES have been drawn between the executive of the Zimbabwe Ex-Political Prisoners Detainees and Restrictees Association (ZEPPDRA) and a splinter group of the same name ahead of the association’s overdue elective congress in November. The splinter group led by Cde Francis Kunaka (chairman) and Cde Percy Kuzvinzwa as secretary-general, is baying for the blood of Cde Victor Kuretu, ZEPPDRA’s chairman.
Cde Kuzvinzwa’s team calls itself the ZEPPDRA national adhoc committee and is accusing Cde Kuretu of ballooning membership figures of ZEPPDRA by going around provinces registering members’ spouses and children as a way of trying to rig the elections.
They also accuse Cde Kuretu of disrespecting the association’s constitution by failing to hold congress and auditing books in the past 14 years.
Said Cde Kuzvinzwa:
“We are supposed to hold congress after every three years in August. Kuretu has failed to do this but now wants to hold the congress in November, disturbing the main Zanu-PF congress. We don’t know how much is in our trust fund or coffers because our books have not been audited in the past 14 years. We want to go to congress but we cannot go when Kuretu is at the helm running the show as coordinator, organiser and chairperson. This man was never voted into office, he was co-opted following the death of the previous chairman. He does not have the mandate of the people and this is why he is afraid of the elective congress.”
Cde Kuzvinzwa alleged that Cde Kuretu was charging $17 for a picture per household in his drive to boost membership.
He said Cde Kuretu has double standards as he labels those who against him “bogus” members yet he collects money from them as subscriptions.
“He is running a one man show and is embezzling funds, more than $300,000. This is why we passed a vote of no confidence last time. Cde Kuretu is arranging to have children attend the congress. Children are not members and cannot attend,” said Cde Kuzvinzwa.
Cde Kuretu dismissed Cde Kuzvinzwa’s allegations as “an old story” meant to distract him.
He said he was busy preparing for the elective congress.
“There is nothing new in what they (the splinter group) are saying. I am going ahead with our congress and I am meeting provinces as part of the preparations. Logistics are in place. We are restructuring provinces. It is not true we are targeting everyone to be members of our our association. Those we are targeting have detention letters. The problem is we have a lot of impostors, especially in Gweru. Our patron, Cde Cephas Msipa, is being misled by these individuals. Most of these impostors refuse to go to congress, surprisingly.”
Cde Kuretu said he was elected into office democratically as he was voted for at the previous congress.
He said ZEPPDRA has managed to hold congress every three years without fail.
“These people are attention seekers. We did not overstay. We have a process to follow. The people who are making noise are not even ZEPPDRA members. For the record, our congress does not in any way affect the main party congress. Our congress will be held on 14 and 15 November (Friday and Saturday). We are distributing papers to the people we are meeting about this development. The other group call themselves ad hoc committee, what is that?
“On the issue of patron, again they are misinforming you. How can I fight to change the patron? The patron is only there to advise. He does not have executive powers. There is no way I can change the patron. We have a constitution that guides us,” said Cde Kuretu.
Dr Msipa, the ZEPPDRA patron, said he was seized with the problems bedevilling the association.
He said President Mugabe has since tasked him and Cde Didymus Mutasa to look into the problems affecting ZEPPDRA.
“Some people who helped form ZEPPDRA are not happy with Kuretu-led executive. The other group has since passed a vote of no-confidence in Kuretu and his executive. The problems have been going on for long and it’s time I stated my position as patron. Kuretu was appointed 14 years ago. Since then no congress has been held. ZEPPDRA members are violating their own constitution. Kuretu and his team are there without the mandate of the people. As patron, I feel very uncomfortable with people who do not respect their own constitution,” said Dr Msipa.
He urged the executive to first audit their books before congress.
“It is not good for books to go for 14 years without being audited,” he said. “Kuretu is also suspending members without even conducting a hearing. Members are not given a chance to defend themselves. This is tantamount to dismissal. I discussed these problems with Kuretu and he promised to lift the suspensions but he is still to do that. Kuretu is saying he will be having a congress in November but I think he should first have books audited for transparency’s sake. Members say they want an ad hoc committee to run ZEPPDRA because Kuretu forfeited that right when he failed to hold congress in the past 14 years. The man is running the association as his personal company because he is violating the constitution willy-nilly.”
Online Reporter