PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has renewed efforts to lure
Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa into Zanu PF structures and government, this
time sending a top military commander to engage the ex-home affairs minister.
Informed sources told the Zimbabwe Independent last week
Mnangagwa was eager to have Dabengwa in government, although he was yet to
reveal in what capacity.
Government officials revealed Mnangagwa dispatched the
commander to meet Dabengwa and apprise him of his plans a fortnight ago. The
two met in Bulawayo.
“At first, Dabengwa met a combined team of officers from
the Central Intelligence Organisation’s Bulawayo and Matabeleland North
provinces. They told him their duty and assignment was to lay the groundwork
for a meeting between him and a delegation from Harare,” a source said.
“The final meeting between Dabengwa and the commander was
held three weeks ago and it was a very secretive meeting.
The discussions revolved around him (Dabengwa) re-joining
Zanu PF and government. Mnangagwa intends to give Dabengwa a very senior role,”
the sources said.
It was further revealed Dabengwa had told the commander
that he was unwilling to rejoin Zanu PF, but was only willing to serve
government under Zapu, in respect of the 1987 Unity Accord signed between PF
Zapu and Zanu.
The accord, Zapu insists, has remained largely a ceasefire
agreement as the Zanu component has benefitted in a disproportionate manner
from government posts allocation, as well as in development terms.
“Dabengwa indicated he had parted ways with Zanu PF some
years back and his conscience was against joining the party again. He indicated
he would only serve on condition that Mnangagwa accepted him as a Zapu
representative,” the source added.
The commander, another source said, promised to take
Dabengwa’s message to Mnangagwa, with the two parties agreeing to have further
consultations.
In an interview with the Independent, Dabengwa was
non-committal about the latest meeting. He said he had met a number of
“Mnangagwa’s people”.
“I have met many people who have come from Mnangagwa to
discuss a number of things. They know what I have said to them. My story has
not changed. The demands that I made remain the same,” Dabengwa said.
Pressed further, Dabengwa said he had demanded, among other
things, that government returns Zapu properties that it had seized, and be
prepared to implement the devolution of power as enshrined in the constitution.
“I have insisted that if I am to go back there, I will not join Zanu PF and all
these other things. These conditions have to be respected,” Dabengwa said.
On his meeting with the commander, Dabengwa said: “Why do
you want me to confirm that? I have given you my word on this matter. Whether I
met him (the commander) or not is neither here nor there.” Zimbabwe Independent
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