Kudakwashe Bhasikiti
Upenyu Chaota
The opposition Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF), largely composed of members fired from the ruling Zanu PF on allegations of plotting to usurp power from the then President Robert Mugabe back in 2014, could close shop after its top leadership traced its footsteps back to the ruling party.
The Zanu PF central committee last month extended an olive branch to all former members expelled from the party from as far back as 2014.
ZimPF heavyweights Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and Rtd Col Claudius Makova were quick to respond to the call and showed up at last weeks’ Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting where they swore allegiance to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Bhasikiti, who was ZimPF national chairperson, said he resigned from ZimPF and is now in Zanu PF full time, claiming the ruling party ‘has always been my home’.
“Zanu PF and ZimPF are the same. When we were expelled, we formed a party which is people-oriented like Zanu PF. We did not want to call ourselves Zanu PF original but we decided to follow the goals of Zanu PF while outside.
“Now that Zanu PF has redeemed itself, we have decided to come back because we have always been Zanu PF. I told Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo that we should dissolve the party and go back to our roots and I assure you that they are all coming back to their home,” said Bhasikiti.
Bhasikiti said he was not after any position but was available to serve Zanu PF and make sure that the party won election next year.
“Some people may begin to wonder why I have decided to trace back my footsteps so I want to assure them that I am not seeking any position. I just want to serve my party because this is the only party I know,” said Bhasikiti.
Surprisingly, it is the same Bhasikiti who pulled out of the Mwenezi East parliamentary by-election in March, citing intimidation and vote-buying by Zanu PF which he condemned as a violent party.
Rtd Col Makova also weighed in saying they were the first to answer to the call by the central committee saying they never wanted to leave Zanu PF but were forced out.
“I want to categorically state that I never left Zanu PF but I was expelled. It was not my wish but I had no other option. The party had been hijacked and even President Mnangagwa was expelled too. Many people were expelled so we have to work together now to rebuild the party,” said Rtd Col Makova.politics
