ZAPU says its attempts to unite opposition parties in Bulawayo and Matabeleland ahead of the Nkulumane parliamentary by-election collapsed, leaving the race wide open and increasing the likelihood of a vote split that could benefit Zanu PF.
The party said it ultimately decided to field its own candidate after efforts to build consensus around a single opposition nominee failed. ZAPU argues that political institutions, not individuals, should drive electoral processes and accountability.
The Nkulumane by-election, scheduled for 20 December 2025, has drawn nine candidates, making it one of the most crowded contests in recent years. The seat became vacant following the death of MP Desire Moyo in October.
ZAPU is represented by Vivian Viyo Siziba, whom the party describes as a long-standing and grounded member of the Nkulumane community.
Speaking to CITE, ZAPU Secretary-General Mthulisi Hanana said the party initially hoped to avoid further fragmenting the ballot.
“The issue of ZAPU contesting in these elections comes against the background of having tried to engage other stakeholders and candidates so that we narrow down the number of candidates,” Hanana said. “Once we have a lot of candidates, we are automatically giving the seat to Zanu.”
Hanana said ZAPU reached out to respected political elders and potential mediators in Bulawayo in an effort to forge unity.
“We engaged some eminent people in the city in the hope of getting them to assist us to sit down with the candidates,” he said. “We approached the likes of Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, who has retired from politics, Lovemore Moyo, Dr Samukele Hadebe of Freedom Alliance and others.”
However, he said the talks yielded no agreement.
“Unfortunately, our efforts reached a point where people could not agree. That is why, despite the already high number of candidates, we still fielded our own,” Hanana said.
He partly blamed the breakdown on what he described as the behaviour of some independent candidates.
“One of the reasons we could not agree is because independent candidates in Zimbabwe generally believe they have more capacity than institutions. Some are pretending to be independent while backed by shadowy characters and defunct political parties,” he said.
Hanana argued that allowing such candidates into Parliament without party structures behind them would make accountability difficult.
“If we could not agree with them before they were in power, how would we expect to work with them once they are elected? The level of arrogance and self-centredness we are dealing with is very high,” he added.
He also revealed that ZAPU had even offered other parties the option to use its ticket to ensure institutional oversight, but this proposal was rejected.
“ZAPU fielded a candidate after offering others to run under our banner so that we could maintain systems of control and accountability. That too failed,” he said.
Hanana said the party’s decision is rooted in its long-standing commitment to political institutions.
“Based on the principle that we are against the destruction of institutions in favour of individuals, ZAPU fielded a candidate. Our candidate is a loyal cadre and a tried and tested member of Nkulumane who will represent the people well,” he said.
In a separate interview, Siziba said his campaign would focus on strengthening community structures and improving local representation.
“To kickstart service delivery in the constituency, we will establish strong relations with grassroots structures, residents’ associations, local authorities and ward councillors,” he said.
He stressed the central role of local authorities in delivering public services.
“They represent the entirety of the ward communities. Local authorities are delegated by central government to deliver public goods and services,” he said, adding that matters beyond local authority capacity should be escalated to Parliament.
The nine candidates contesting the Nkulumane seat are: Esther Auxilia Zitha (Independent), Ethel Sibanda (MDC-T), Nompilo Ncube Malaba (ZANC), Alson Moyo (EFF), Rodney Donovan Jele (Independent), Mbuso Fuzwayo (Independent), Freedom Murechu (Zanu PF), Mothusi “Madlela” Ndlovu (CCC), and Vivian Viyo Siziba (ZAPU).
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