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The Herald, March 18, 1980

TWO top officials of Mr Peter Mandaza’s National Front of Zimbabwe said yesterday they had resigned from the party, and would join Zanu (PF).

Mr Christopher Rambanapasi, the party’s election director and economic planning secretary, and Mr Crispen Chitando, the publicity secretary, said in a joint statement their decision had been reached “in the national interest of reconciliation, unity and reconstruction”.

“While we have nothing against the NFZ, we feel it no more serves any purpose. The NFZ began as a genuine political organisation, but has since suffered a number of vicissitudes, which we feel cannot be remedied under its present leadership,” they said.

Congratulating Zanu (PF) on its election victory, the men pledged to unite with all other Zimbabweans to rebuild the new nation.

The resignation of the two men, both of whom are lecturers at the University of Rhodesia, comes a few days after Mr Mandaza said the NFZ national executive had resolved to strengthen the party in preparation for the next general election.

The NFZ, which fielded candidates in all the eight electoral districts during the recent poll, failed to win a seat.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• People will always want to associate themselves with successful individuals, organisations or entities. A good number of opposition members have over the years defected to Zanu PF, because it has remained the party of choice and has maintained its dominance in the country’s political arena.
• People are always happy to remain where their positions are valued and, where they do not see value, they simply walk away.
• Know when to quit. The two men saw that they had come to the crossroads and decided to quit their party to join Zanu (PF), because they did not see a future with their party National Front of Zimbabwe.
• Please note that up until after the Unity Accord, the political parties that signed the Unity Accord were: Zanu (PF) and PF Zapu. Zanu PF is after the amalgamation.