adminMashudu Netsianda Senior Reporter
THE chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA), Cde Jabulani Sibanda, yesterday urged Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial structures to desist from factionalism ahead of the provincial elections scheduled for Saturday.Zanu-PF will hold elections to elect provincial chairpersons, their deputies and the executive in its 10 provinces.
Aspiring candidates wishing to contest for positions have already started submitting their curricula vitae in preparation for the provincial elections.
Addressing war veterans and Zanu-PF members at the former freedom fighters offices in Entumbane in Bulawayo, Cde Sibanda challenged candidates contesting in the election to desist from fanning factionalism, saying it was tantamount to destroying the party.
“On election day let us go and choose a provincial chairperson, deputy chairperson and the executive of our choice. What we don’t want are leaders who create camps that would rally behind them.
“We are tired of factionalism, which is created by greed and selfishness. We want one Zanu-PF in Bulawayo and we will not tolerate greedy individuals who go about mobilising people to support them,” said Cde Sibanda.
He said factions were a cause for concern of the party.
“We want unity and the people who do not follow the Zanu-PF ideology should not have a place in our party because these are the same people who destroy the party from within. You cannot step into another person’s shoes with your shoes on, but instead you have to humble yourself by removing your shoes first and these are the leaders that we want,” said Cde Sibanda.
He urged leaders to respect their people.
“Leadership is not about qualifications but qualities. In a leader, we are looking for qualities. As a leader, you are only deployed by the party and their purpose is to serve and respect people,” he said.
Cde Sibanda said war veterans had an obligation to defend the revolution of the country.
“We have a constitution in the war veterans association to defend the revolution and that comes first. We are capable of chucking you out of the association if you want to create divisions in our party that liberated the country.
“Zanu-PF has no defending champion and that is why from time to time we get new leaders in our structures. The quality of a true leader is derived from their capability of being able to be led. Let us follow in the footsteps of great leaders such as President Mugabe and the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo,” said Cde Sibanda.
Speaking during the same occasion, Zanu-PF Central Committee member Cde Molly Mpofu castigated individuals who are in the habit of bribing people into voting them.
“We are aware that there are some people who are convening secret meetings as we approach elections. Some individuals have a tendency of bribing voters and as Zanu-PF we would like to warn such people.
“They are opportunists whose agenda is to destroy our party and as Zanu-PF we don’t condone that practice,” said Cde Mpofu.
The meeting was also attended by the acting chairman for Bulawayo province, Cde Japhet Phuthi and Zanu-PF deputy provincial chairperson, Cde Killian Sibanda who is also contesting for the position of chairperson.
The others who submitted their CVs for the post of provincial chairman in Bulawayo are Cdes Douglas Ndlovu, Simon Khabo, Tendai Ncube and Joseph Tshuma.
Party officials said Bulawayo Province forwarded the name of the incumbent provincial chairman, Professor Callistus Ndlovu for consideration in recognition of the role he played in stabilising the party.
Online Reporter