The leader of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), Sibangilizwe Nkomo, has accused the ruling Zanu PF party of systematically undermining and destroying opposition parties in the country.
Nkomo, who is the son of the late liberation hero and former Vice President Joshua Nkomo, said Zanu PF was behind the recent turmoil in the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
The relatively new opposition alliance has been plagued by infighting and defections.
“Zanu has always been in the job of destroying other parties starting with Zapu. We know we have no reason not to believe Zanu is also involved in the destruction of CCC and other parties,” Nkomo said.
He said Zanu PF used agents of “questionable characters” to infiltrate and destabilize opposition groups.
“We have seen characters of operations. You think that the way some of our compatriots operate on behalf of Zanu PF but I have no reason to doubt that Zanu has a hand in destroying political outfits,” Nkomo said.
The CCC was formed in 2022 by Nelson Chamisa, a former leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who broke away from the party after a bitter leadership dispute. Chamisa recently announced his departure from the CCC, alleging that Zanu PF had planted moles within the coalition.
Chamisa singled out Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-proclaimed secretary general of the CCC, who initiated the recall of several opposition lawmakers and councillors from their positions. Chamisa claimed that Tshabangu was working for Zanu PF.
Zanu PF has also been blamed for the split of the MDC in 2019 when the Supreme Court ruled that Chamisa was not the party’s legitimate leader and ordered him to hand over the reins to Thokozani Khupe, a rival faction leader.
The ruling was widely seen as politically motivated and influenced by Zanu PF.
