Zapu demands return of properties
2010 07 07
http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2010-07-07-zapu-demands-return-of-properties
DUMISANI SIBANDA
Jul 07 2010 10:23
Bulawayo
An MDC-T deputy minister, Moses Mzila Ndlovu, who is a former freedom fighter has added his voice to the growing calls for the return of Zapu properties confiscated at the height of the Gukurahundi era by Zanu-PF.
Ndlovu was speaking at a belated commemoration of the 11th anniversary of the death of Father Zimbabwe Joshua Nkomo, organised by a local pressure group Ibhetshu Likazulu at Amakhosi Township Square last Saturday where he was the only government official present.
“As Zapu we invested in properties to secure our own future but they were taken away from us. We should demand our properties back. We should be able to use those properties for our benefit and the benefit of our children because that was our sweat,’’ he said.
The former Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra) fighter who was in a combative mood said the properties were bought using their demobilisation payouts.
He said failure to return the assets as well as the continued marginalisation of the Matabeleland region were a sign that “Gukurahundi is still in force’’.
Commenting on the sentiments by Ndlovu, the Zapu spokesperson, Methuseli Moyo, said Ndlovu’s ideas were noble and the matter of Zapu properties should be followed up.
“We appreciate the sentiments by Ndlovu,” Moyo said. “He is an ex-Zipra fighter who knows where he is coming from and where he will end. We encourage him to lobby his friends in Zanu PF and the two MDC formations to do what is right – to hand over those properties to Zapu where they rightfully belong. Zapu has been revived and there is no need to fight over this.’’
“As Zapu we consider this to be a serious outstanding issue (on the Global Political Agreement) more serious than the issue of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Gideon Gono or Attorney General (Johannes) Tomana or(Roy) Bennett(Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate).
Zapu properties that are still under the control of the government include Magnet House in Bulawayo, which houses the regional headquarters of the state security agency, the Central Intelligence Organisation, and Castle Arms Motel, also in Bulawayo.
In Harare there is Snake Park, among others. Some of the Zapu properties are run through a company, Nitram Holdings, which represents the interests of Zipra cadres.After the Unity Accord in 1987, the Zanu PF government refused to hand over the properties seized in 1982 at the height of Gukurahundi in Matabeleland and Midlands.