Nduduzo Tshuma Political Editor
THE beleaguered Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leader, Joice Mujuru, faces her first real political test when she addresses a rally in Bulawayo on Saturday, her first since the formation of the opposition party in March.
Mujuru, fired from the government where she served as Vice President over allegations of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe, will address party supporters at the Stanley Square in Makokoba suburb.
In a desperate move to ensure the success of the rally, Mujuru dispatched the interim national coordinator Dzikamai Mavhaire to the city yesterday to assess the venue and get an update on the preparations for the event.
The situation on the ground, however, paints a gloomy picture for the party with reported infighting within the Bulawayo structures leading to a recent vote of no confidence passed against the provincial coordinator Esnath Bulayani.
The party moved to reverse the no confidence vote but insiders said that did not restore normal relations between members as there are still divisions.
At national level, there has also been reported tussling for positions with former Zanu PF politburo members Rugare Gumbo and Didymus Mutasa allegedly pressuring Mujuru to give them senior positions.
The ZimPF deputy spokesperson Kudzai Mbudzi told our sister paper The Herald that Gumbo and Mutasa were holding Mujuru hostage as they wanted her to “anoint them” for positions.
Mujuru also faced a revolt from the party’s youth with Cde Jim Kunaka leaving the opposition party to join Zanu PF citing the former Vice president’s poor leadership qualities.
The interim chairperson of the national committee on information and publicity, Methuseli Moyo, however, said all was in place for the holding of the rally.
“This is our first rally, it is important that it succeeds. We are confident that it will succeed. Our mobilisation teams are working hard to make sure that we record a bumper crowd,’ said Moyo who also confirmed that Mavhaire was in the city.
Moyo dismissed reports of internal fighting as a creation of the media saying Mujuru was a “tried and tested” politician who needs no introduction to Zimbabwean politics.
However, insiders said there was a general feeling of disgruntlement within the party with members outside Harare saying Mujuru had surrounded herself with colleagues she was expelled with from Zanu-PF.
“It seems Mujuru only trusts those people who came with her from Zanu-PF. The likes of Mavhaire are causing divisions and Mujuru can’t see that,” said an insider.
“Mujuru doesn’t seem to trust Jabulani Sibanda also. He was tasked to mobilise war veterans, a rather ineffective role, to keep him away from the helm of the party. The entire interim structure was appointed by Mujuru in consultation with her former Zanu-PF colleagues and we were shocked to hear some names being mentioned. That is the other thing that is causing problems.”
Insiders further indicated that the choice of Stanley Square, a relatively small venue, was cautiously made just in case the party attracts small numbers.
“Venues like White City and Barbourfields could easily expose that the party has no support in Bulawayo so Stanley square was a strategic venue. It has nothing to do with the historic background of the venue in as far as the country’s national politics is concerned,” said an insider.