President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected in Bulawayo on Friday for a follow-up meeting with civil society organisations from Matabeleland and traditional chiefs.
The Matabeleland Collective (MC), the convener of the groundbreaking meeting, has since split with the bulk of the members jumping ship to form a new coalition called Matabeleland Forum.
MC met with President Mnangagwa in March last year at the Bulawayo State House, to discuss issues affecting the region including the emotive Gukurahundi atrocities.
The loose coalition developed some cracks after some of the members felt uneasy with being viewed as aligned to the Zanu PF led government.
In a letter addressed to the members of the civic society, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Virginia Mabhiza, said it was necessary for a follow up meeting to discuss progress on the implementation matrix discussed last year.
“As you may be aware, President Mnangagwa had a meeting with the Matabeleland Civic Society on March 21 2019. A matric on issues affecting Matabeleland Province and part of the Midlands province was developed. It has therefore become necessary to conduct a follow up meeting to discuss progress on the matrix and also craft a way forward in terms of other key outstanding issues that were discussed,” Mabhiza said.
The letter was addressed to convenor, Pastor Trevor Masuku, Coordinator Jenny Williams and Healing Thematic Chairperson Dr Dumisani Ngwenya.
Mabhiza noted that a request made by the Matabeleland Civic Society, via a letter, dated February 5 2020 to be accompanied by Matabeleland chiefs at their follow up meeting was receiving attention.
“You are therefore invited to the meeting which will be held at State House Bulawayo on February 14, 2020…,” said the permanent secretary.
According to insiders, the MC failed to come up with a strategy and a narrative that was to be shared with people about its intended purpose in meeting authorities.
During the split, some members said the decision-making within the MC was now limited to a very few self-appointed individuals.
