Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi this week told the Zimbabwe Independent that Government will not return Zapu properties taken before the Gukurahundi genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands.
Ziyambi said he has not seen a petition by Zapu members urging President Emmerson Mnangagwa to release government’s grip on the properties. He also said legally there is no party called Zapu since it joined hands with Zanu-PF in 1987. Said Ziyambi:
First of all, let me state that I have personally not seen any petition to the effect of demanding any Zapu properties. Yes, I have heard and read that some people claim to have petitioned my office and that of the president over those said properties. Secondly, we come to legal issues covering such an issue. Legally speaking, there is no party called Zapu. Which one is the one you are talking about? The Zapu which existed prior to 1987 joined hands with Zanu PF to become one party. It goes without saying, therefore, that any property that belonged to either party before that Unity Accord of 1987 automatically belongs to Zanu PF.
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More: Independent