Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe African Nation Union (ZANU) Ndonga political party; structure, leaders, goals, headquarters; name of the secretary of the Youth Wing in 1995; information on membership cards; activities in 1995 and 1996; treatment of members by authorities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZWE30986.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe African Nation Union (ZANU) Ndonga political party; structure, leaders, goals, headquarters; name of the secretary of the Youth Wing in 1995; information on membership cards; activities in 1995 and 1996; treatment of members by authorities, 1 January 1999, ZWE30986.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac935c.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
General information on the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) Ndonga political party can be found in Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East, Political Handbook of the World, Africa South of the Sahara and the Europa World Yearbook available at Regional Documentation Centres.
No information concerning the structure, Youth Wing and membership cards of the ZANU-Ndonga party could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
The orientation of ZANU-Ndonga is described as "right-wing, hostile to ruling party" with links to UNITA in Angola and RENAMO of Mozambique (Political Parties 1993, 319). There have also been allegations that the ZANU-Ndonga RENAMO alliance produced a military wing known as "chimuenjes" or "little lights" (Noticias 11 Apr. 1995; AFP 5 July 1996). A principal goal of ZANU-Ndonga has been the removal of the Mugabe government (Political Parties 1993, 319; Political Handbook, 1998 1998, 1046). According to one report, ZANU-Ndonga "represents" the Ndau-speaking people of Southeast Zimbabwe (Sacramento Bee 20 May 1995).
The founding president of ZANU-Ndonga Rev. Ndbaningi Sithole won a seat in parliament in a December 1994 by-election and successfully held the seat in parliamentary elections held in April 1995 (ibid.). Candidates running on the ZANU-Ndonga ticket in the April 1995 parliamentary elections also included Mumba Maru (Shamva District), Timothy Mukwengwe (Rushinga) and Eddison Chitekuteku (Bikita) (ZNBC 8 Apr. 1995). Sithole was quoted as saying that a lack of funds and voter intimidation were responsible for the failure of ZANU-Ndonga to make gains beyond the two seats it had already held (ibid. 11 Apr. 1995).
In October 1995 Sithole was arrested in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate President Mugabe (Xinhua 14 Oct. 1995; Daily Telgraph 16 Oct. 1995) and was subsequently released on bail (DPA 20 Oct. 1995). Two other ZANU-Ndonga members were also arrested in late 1995: Sithole bodyguard William Namakonya for illegally possessing arms and in December Simon Mhlanga for involvement in guerilla training (Political Handbook, 1998 1998 1046). The former had reportedly confessed to being a member of the chimuenje (ibid.). Shortly after his release Sithole accused the Zimbabwean government of having murdered "hundreds" of ZANU-Ndonga guerilla supporters in Mozambique "before and after he won power fifteen years ago" (The Star 9 Nov. 1995). Mugabe "dismissed the charges as nonsense" (ibid.).
In December 1995, while released on bail, Sithole announced that he would run in the country's presidential elections, scheduled for March 1996 and, if elected, dissolve the parliament and hold new elections to avoid facing a hostile ZANU-PF dominated parliament (ZNBC 18 Dec. 1995). In February 1996, while campaigning, Sithole accused his wife of collaborating with ZANU-PF in order to disrupt his campaign, claiming that she had been paid "millions of Zimbabwe dollars" (Xinhua 26 Feb. 1996). Shortly thereafter, Sithole announced that he would be keeping his campaign schedule "a close secret", claiming that there had been "attempts on his life and those of his followers" (SAPA 5 Mar. 1996). Sithole also claimed that the charges against him were a fabrication plotted by the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) claiming that he had CIO documents proving the conspiracy (ZBC Radio 11 Mar. 1996). However, the authenticity of the documents was questioned immediately and again at his trial (ibid.; PANA 4 Dec. 1996). In the wake of these events Sithole announced that he was withdrawing from the presidential race (IPS 13 Mar. 1996; Reuters 15 Mar. 1996) which was ultimately won by Mugabe (ibid. 19 Mar. 1996).
In November 1996, Sithole's trial was referred to the Zimbabwean Supreme Court with the High Court judge ordering that his bond and passport be returned to him (AFP 15 Nov. 1996; SAPA 15 Nov. 1996).
During the trial, one of Sithole's co-accused, Simba Mhlanga, stated that he had been forced to sign an affidavit implicating Sithole in the face of death threats (PANA 2 Dec. 1997; BBC Online 2 Dec. 1997). Sithole was found guilty in December 1997 (BBC Online 7 Dec. 1997) and sentenced to a two-year jail term (PANA 18 Dec. 1997). In January 1998, however, he launched an appeal (PANA 15 Jan. 1998). Subsequent information concerning the status of the appeal could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 15 November 1996. "Mugabe Murder Plot Trial Referred to Supreme Court." (NEXIS)
_____. 5 July 1996. "Zimbabwean Dissidents Led by a Retired RENAMO General: Report." (NEXIS)
Africa South of the Sahara 1998. 1998. 27th Ed. London: Europa Publications.
BBC News Online. 7 December 1997. "Veteran Opposition Politician Found Guilty of Plot." [Internet]
_____. 2 December 1997. "Zimbabwean Politician Defends Treason Charges." [Internet]
Daily Telegraph. 16 October 1995. Christopher Bishop. "Sithole Arrested in Dawn Raid Over Mugabe Murder Plot." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 20 October 1995. "Zimbabwe Court Grants Opposition Leader Sithole Bail." (NEXIS)
The Europa World Year Book 1998. 1998. Vol. 2. London : Europa Publications.
Inter Press Service (IPS) [Harare]. 13 March 1996. "Zimbabwe Elections: A Non-event Within a Non-event." [Internet]
Noticias [Maputo, in Portugese]. 11 April 1995. "Zimbabwean Dissidents Reportedly Gathered at Border." (FBIS-AFR-95-075 11 Apr. 1995/WNC)
Panafrican News Agency (PANA). 21 January 1998. "News in Brief." [Internet]
_____. 15 January 1998. "Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Appeals Against Sentence." [Internet]
_____. 18 December 1997. "Two Year Sentence For Veteran Zimbabwean Politician." [Internet]
_____. 4 December 1997. "Central Intelligence Documents Queried in Sithole Trial." [Internet]
_____. 2 December 1997. "Zimbabwe Treason Trial Witness Blames Prosecution." [Internet]
Political Handbook of the World: 1998. (Political Handbook). 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.
Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East: A Reference Guide. (Political Parties) 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. London: Longman.
Reuters. 19 March 1996. "Mugabe Declared Winner of Zimbabwe Presidency Poll." (NEXIS)
_____. 15 March 1996. "Information On Zimbabwe's Presidential Election." (NEXIS)
Sacramento Bee. 20 May 1995. Holger Jensen. "Nothing is Free in Zimbabwe, Not Even Economic Enterprise." (NEXIS)
SAPA [Johannesburg, in English]. 15 November 1996. "Zimbabwe: High Court Orders Return of Sithole's Passport, Bail." (FBIS-AFR-96-223 15 Nov. 1996/WNC)
_____. 5 March 1996. "Zimbabwe: Candidate Keeps Schedule Secret; Cites Security." (FBIS-AFR-96-046 5 Mar. 1996/WNC)
The Star [Johannesburg, in English]. 9 November 1995. "Sithole Charges Mugabe Murdered His Supporters." (FBIS-AFR-85-217 9 Nov. 1995/WNC)
Xinhua. 26 February 1996. "Zimbabwe's Opposition Leader Accuses Wife of Betrayal." (NEXIS)
_____. 14 October 1995. "Zimbabwean Opposition Leader Arrested." (NEXIS)
ZBC Radio [Harare, in English]. 11 March 1996. "ZANU-Ndonga Leader Reveals Alleged Plot to Frame Him." (BBC Summary 13 Mar. 1996/NEXIS)
_____. 18 December 1995. "ZANU-Ndonga Leader "Ready to Challenge" ZANU-PF Presidential Candidate." (BBC Summary 17 Dec. 1995/NEXIS)
_____. 11 April 1995. "ZANU-Ndonga Leader Cites Voter Intimidation, Says Party's Funds Blocked." (BBC Summary 13 Apr. 1995/NEXIS)
Zimbabwe National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC). 8 April 1995. "'Thousands' Vote in Parliamentary Elections." (FBIS-AFR-95-068 8 Apr. 1998/WNC)
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential [London]. 1995 - 1998.
Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1995 - 1998.
Amnesty International Report. 1994 - 1997.
Balancie, Jean-Marc et Arnaud de La Grange. 1996. Mondes Rebelles: Acteurs, Conflits et Violences Politiques. Vol. I. Paris : Éditions Michalon.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 1993 - 1997.
Human Rights in Developing Countries Yearbook. 1998.
News from Africa Watch. 1990 - 1998
Resource Centre Country file on Zimbabwe. 1994 - 1998.
Resource Centre Amnesty International file on Zimbabwe 1994 - 1998.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, REFWORLD, Internet, and WNC.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact ZANU-Ndonga party headquarters.
