Former vice President, Joice Mujuru’s National People’s Party (NPP) has been hit by infighting between party members amid concerns by the youth wing that members are being purged at the instigation of the old guard.
In a petition to their leader, Mujuru, the party’s youth wing raised concern over purging of party members without regard for due processes and the alleged capture of the movement by a ‘notorious cabal’ which they said is close to the country’s former vice President.
“Consequent to the above stated, it is crystal clear that there exists within the party leadership in occupation of high offices, a cunning and notorious cabal bent on destroying the party from within.
“A clear illustration is the manner in which Mr. Philani Gama was suspended from Party. Several discrepancies in the suspension letter (kindly find attached a copy) reduced the act to a vindictive misconduct by a misguided element within the party,” said Beaula Chakavakira, NPP Youth Secretary General, Diaspora Province.
The group also noted that party members were fired for not supporting Sipepa Nkomo’s bid for the position of vice President of the party, listing one Chitando as having dismissed of Bongani Nyathi.
“Another case in point is the dismissal of Bongani Nyathi, a strong contender for the post of VP, by one Chitando on zimeye, a social media platform. It is not worthy that aside from the youth, the purging is also targeting those who did not support Dr Nkomo during the campaign gor the party Vice President,” added Chakavakira.
Chakavakira accused Mujuru of not consulting party members in decision making raising concern over their leader’s non-availability to party members who sought her audience with grievances.
“On numerous occasions, members have sought your audience armed with genuine grievances but to no avail. This is a conduct that does not build up the Party and frankly, it has led us to where we are today.
“It is our strong conviction that making your person available and accessible to all elected leaders of the party is key in blockading against arbitrary situation we find our party in today,” added Chakavakira.
The youths dismissed Mujuru’s coalition with DARE and ZUNDE under the banner of People’s Rainbow Coalition advising the country’s former vice President to dump briefcase politicians and engage the MDC Alliance saying the partnership is a serious undermining of other parties contesting the 2018 elections.
“As serious paid up members who have been pivotal in mobilizing numbers for this party, we would like to hereby declare our displeasure with the People’s Rainbow Coalition.
“In all earnest and in our considered view, our allies in the freedom train ZUNDE and DARE are insignificant and little known players on the political terrain and running with this train in 2018 is a serious undermining of political enemies we will be pitching ourselves against in the polls.
“Our advice is that the party concedes the move as weak and ineffective, and either forge a serious coalition with the MDC Alliance or go it alone rather than create space or briefcase politicians to thrive,” said Chakavakira.
NPP spokesperson, Jeffryson Chitando could not be reached for comment while the party’s Youth Spokesperson David Ndhlovu mobile phone went unanswered.
