By Strike Mkandla|The Vice President of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) Ms. Emilia Mukaratirwa has resigned.
Ms. Mukaratirwa took the drastic step because she had planned not to stand at the party congress which was planned for 2015 after the completion of the term of the National Executive Committee (NEC) elected in 2010. Now that the congress could not be held for logistical reasons she felt she should not continue beyond the term limit, as she had long decided that her personal circumstances could not be combined with continued responsibility. She turned down requests from the party leadership to postpone her departure until the holding of the party congress that has to take place in the next few months.
The ZAPU NEC at its meeting on 6 February 2016, under the chairmanship of the party President Dr. Dumiso Dabengwa, accepted Ms. Mukaratirwa’s agonizing decision and heaped praise on her for hard work, commitment to team work and ability to work with all levels of the party. They accepted Ms. Mukaratirwa’s conclusion that she has to give priority to family issues and has given as much service under difficult circumstances as was practicable.
Dr. Dumiso Dabengwa and the NEC wish to thank Ms. Mukaratirwa for her unstinting support while she served as the party’s Vice-President. All were unanimous that she is certain to succeed wherever she goes and whatever she does next if she deploys the same level of devotion and collegial self-application she gave to ZAPU.
Dr. Strike Mkandla, Alternate Secretary General (ASG), ZAPU –