Zimbabwe: Paul Siwela

Updated February 2002

Paul Siwela is secretary general of Zapu. He is by all accounts, ambitious. Reports abound that he is plotting to wrest the party presidency from Agrippa Madlela.

In January 2002, Madlela announced that his party would not be contesting the presidential election so as to avoid splitting the opposition vote in Matabeleland. Madlela justified his decision with claims that the Zimbabwean masses wanted Zanu PF out of government and that their wishes should come first. He faced dissent from within his party for this decision and consequently a splinter group was formed lead by Siwela. Siwela immediately claimed that Mandlela lacked grass roots level support. His plan to overshadow the Zapu leader was clear as early as December 2001 when, although he publicly denied wanting to oust Madlela, he stated: "If the people want me to be their representative, I will not stand against their wishes".