A FACTION of the newly formed Matabeleland Forum has threatened to boycott President Emmerson Mnangagwa\u2019s meeting with traditional chiefs and civic society leaders in Bulawayo on Friday, accusing the organisers of pursuing a hidden political agenda.<\/p>\n
The meeting is at State House in Bulawayo.<\/p>\n
Last year in March, Mnangagwa met the region\u2019s civil society members at the same venue under the Matabeleland Collective banner.<\/p>\n
The meeting was being coordinated by Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) leader Jennie Williams and Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, an MP and senior member of the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC.<\/p>\n
Following the meeting, there were serious squabbles within the Matabeleland Collective, a development which resulted in a split and the subsequent formation of Matabeleland Forum.<\/p>\n
The new group, which includes Ibhetshu Likazulu, Habukkuk Trust, Dumiso Dabengwa Foundation and Centre for Innovation and Technology, accuses the Williams-led faction of unilaterally doing things without consulting other members.<\/p>\n
They also accused Williams of unnecessarily showering Mnangagwa with accolades during the previous meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur organisation will definitely not be represented at Friday\u2018s meeting with Mnangagwa. We have got an issue with our colleagues who are trying at all costs to please Mnangagwa while ignoring pertinent issues affecting Matabeleland region,\u201d said Mbuso Fuzwayo, Ibhetshu Likazulu Coordinator told NewZimbabwe.com.<\/p>\n
Fuzwayo said last time they were \u201cshocked\u201d to hear Williams, who was chairing the meeting, describing Mnangagwa as a \u201clistening and better President than his predecessor Robert Mugabe\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore we met Mnangagwa during our last meeting, we collectively agreed on issues to raise with him. We never agreed on the issue of showering Mnangagwa with useless accolades as what happened,\u201d said Fuzwayo.<\/p>\n
Another representative who refused to be named for fear of victimisation also vowed not attend the meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat meeting is a useless one. Those who have organised it have sold the struggle of Matabeleland. Last year we raised issues such as devolution and underdevelopment in the region, but none of these issues have been addressed. Things are still being imposed on us,\u201d said the member.<\/p>\n
He cited the sacking of Ntabazinduna Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni as a flagrant disrespect of the people of Matabeleland.<\/p>\n
Mnangagwa fired Ndiweni last year claiming that he was not a legitimate traditional chief.<\/p>\n
When reached for comment, Centre for Innovation and Technology Director, Zenzele Ndebele refused to comment.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now I am not in a position to tell whether we will be able to attend or not. Perhaps you can phone me later,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A FACTION of the newly formed Matabeleland Forum has threatened to boycott President Emmerson Mnangagwa\u2019s meeting with traditional chiefs and civic society leaders in Bulawayo on Friday, accusing the organisers of pursuing a hidden political agenda. The meeting is at State House in Bulawayo. Last year in March, Mnangagwa met the region\u2019s civil society members […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":19472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12],"tags":[34,88,395],"class_list":["post-19469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-emmerson-mnangagwa","tag-mdc","tag-presidency"],"yoast_head":"\n