By Paul Nyathi

Fiery former ZANU PF strongman and former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda may be soon finding his way back into the ruling party.

As one of their resolutions at a meeting held in Lupane at the weekend, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWA) pushed for ZANU PF to re-admit its deposed former chairman into the party without conditions.

Sibanda was expelled from the party in 2014 on accusations of indiscipline.

He was accused of various transgressions among them disrespecting former President Robert Mugabe who was patron of the war veterans’ body and his wife Mrs Grace Mugabe. Sibanda had said that the then first couple had initiated a “bedroom coup”.

Addressing the meeting, ZNLWVA secretary-general Victor Matemadanda said the party cannot afford to go into the next election without Mr Sibanda.

He said the former war veterans chairman was a vital asset to the revolutionary party’s existence.

“I have spoken to Jabulani Sibanda, he did not resign from Zanu-PF but was expelled. I was also expelled and so was President Mnangagwa. Why should Jabulani be given conditions for him to come back to the party?

“We have restored the country’s legacy, Jabulani has proven that he is for the revolution because he could have joined another party but he didn’t. So why can’t he be restored as well without conditions?” said Matemadanda.

On being expelled from the party, Sibanda went on to join hands with also dismissed former Vice President Joice Mujuru and was instrumental in the formation of the Zimbabwe People First party now the National People’s Party.

Matemadanda called on the ZANU PF supporters not to use rumours that Sibanda was seen at opposition parties as an excuse to deny him a return to the party.

“Jabulani is very useful material in politics, we will be lying to ourselves if we say he is useless and can go. We can’t lose a person like him at this stage. If he goes to the opposition we will jump as a party,” said Matemadanda.