(Opinion)In my quest to uncover the truth behind the re-emergence of new Zapu, the most ridiculous and farfetched conspiracy theory I have encountered was told on the streets. In short, what was said is, Dabengwa was kidnapped by the CIO, taken to Njelele (a holy shrine in the outskirts of Bulawayo) where he was beaten up to appease the spirits by punishing those who had been pinpointed in a spirit medium’s dream, as a threat to national unity. Only after this act, coupled with a few rain dances, would the heavens open up. How the guy managed to tell such a story with a straight face is beyond me. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but no one is entitled to their own facts!! Dabengwa, seemingly unimpressed by the battering called it a day and quickly reformed Zapu.

Fibs aside and turning to the question of the unity cord abolishment, described as ineffective by most Zapu supporters. They insist the accord was more of a coercion, a force fed bipartisanship deal, which in turn advocated the creation of a fascist one party state by asserting themselves in armed conflict against the minority. After chronically steamrolling Zapu through a murderous campaign, the only solution to unlock the violent gridlock was to “unite” with PF ZANU.

There exists a sharp contradiction in the way Zanu PF encompasses this development. In essence, they have painted a portrayal of Zapu as a vigilante semi-tribalistic sect awash with failed politicians who seek to promote a tribal divide and reopen old wounds. Prompted further, this is what he had to say.

They underscore how deeply sensitive and emotional people feel about the conflict of the eighties. The fact is, the flashpoint issues of the eighties were never fully resolved. No apology to date was ever issued. Of course we cannot brush aside the magnitude of the injustice done or erase the ghosts of past events, but we are facing our history and going forward in a tribal blind fashion. The problem comes in when zealots blindly follow a party line no matter what their policy is. Diminished political hypnosis of this nature intoxicates the preservance of liberty. The voter needs to be re-educated. That is why we are here.

Every writer knows the joys of chasing after misfiring politicians, in the process exposing their inadequacies. My approach to this piece was that of unflinching skeptism towards the re-emergence, which to an extent was warranted after the stillbirth of Zapu 2000. My sole intention at the time was to condemn anything they represent without offering myself an relevant knowledge, argument or research. This highest form of ignorance actually helped me see the party in a different light after a lengthy schooling session by my “contact”

Asked what Zapu represents, he responded,

“politicians nowadays continue to speak so little of what the masses are going through. They are trained to win arguments not solve problems. They forget the story told by millions of Zimbabweans struggling with jobs,electricity and water bills,insufficient healthcare systems etc All they want is a basic structure which will allows them to be hopeful,not frightened by our future. Zapu is not about prepackaged political stagecraft or routine,ready to pull of the shelf policies.We are here to reflect the way lives are actually lived and adjust accordingly to

We are and we were always a defender of minority rights. We believe in equal opportunities for every black, white or grey Zimbabwean. The idea of true communism , a life without the constraints of colour, tribe, rank or any form of imprisoning predisposed inherited social disorders. This is the nucleus of our mission. We owe it to the future generations. It must be noted that ,before we are judged, voters need to circle back to the start, to Zimbabwe’s earliest debates and founding documents, to trace how they have played out over time and only then can anyone make conclusions based on this subsequent history.

Before I my guard down, I still sensed an atmosphere of suspicion, maybe Zanu PF actually encouraged Zapu’s re-birth as this is likely to split the Matebeland vote, which has traditionally been a nightmare for them. If Dabengwa and co somehow managed to claw back the 24 percent minority they held in parliament before the accord came into place, would MDC’s power in Matebeleland be permanently diffused??Could this be another move to revitalize their crumbling lethargic structures?

Nothing in politics happens by accident, you can bet your last dollar it was planned. Any sort of dogfight in this region can only benefit Zanu. There exists a serious possibility Zapu can clean up Matebeleland, harming MDC not Zanu PF.

So, could Mugabe have pushed out Dabengwa knowing fully well the ex Zipra head of intelligence would re-emerge as Zapu and become MDC’s problem? One might think Dabengwa is still with Team Zanu, a puppet in disguise, sent out to Matebelaland and other pro Zapu provinces either as a decoy to defocus MDC, turning their heads to a smaller enemy whilst they proactively make uninterrupted progress? Either that or Dabengwa was slyly sent to encourage voters to vote by personal identity not moral standing, recreating and amplifying ill tribal feelings. This would seem to me like a manipulation technique, where one creates a problem, blames someone for it and offers a solution to the problem they have created.

With that in mind, i set to clue up myself on Zapu’s goals. I listened to one of Dabengwa’s press releases, paying special attention to Zapu’s immediate objectives. He mentioned long list of impressive blueprints which included providing economic stewardship, building democratic institutions and respect for the rule of law. What stood out to me as political claptrap was the “rebuilding infrastructure” talking point. I know for a fact this is not his strongest point, not after he chaired the doomed Zambezi Water Project. That aside, I impatiently wait for the finalisation of the six draft documents presented sometime in May 2009.Only then can one make an in-depth analysis.

Generally speaking, Dabengwa is not the most likable politician but I see in him a genuine, undefined desire to serve, he comes across as an intense man with a quirky inward manner, a bit like Gordon Brown. I fear the amount of time he has spent above the fray, outside the world of immediate hunger, disappointments, fear, hopelessness and the all other hardships faced by of normal people like you and me, makes him orbit in a different galaxy. His scope of interaction is certainly out of touch with commoners. How about a new young, passionate, charismatic energetic face whose motives cannot be put into question??

Before giving them dark horse status for the 2011 election, I would like to find out if their involvement in politics is not about getting rich, gaining status, power or any form of politicking that will breed distrust. Every last voter needs to be convinced they can champion the plight of the voiceless, their statements will be analysed, their beliefs examined. For their sake, we hope they know what they are getting themselves into, in politics they maybe second comings but there is no second place.  [Picture above: ZAPU's first meeting in Milton Keynes, UK. Credits- Clement Moyo]

(ZimEye, Zimbabwe)

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