HARARE - Leader  of the revived Zapu, Dumiso Dabengwa, is optimistic of a good turnout in the 2013 watershed elections, saying his party’s detractors will be shamed despite his organisation’s financial woes and squabbles.

Since pulling out of the marriage of inconvenience with former ally Zanu PF in 2007, Zapu has been accused of being Zanu PF agents spoiling the party for MDC when Dabengwa chose to support Simba Makoni in presidential elections.

Dabengwa told the Daily News his party commands a lot of support and his supporters would speak come polling day.

“Zapu has many supporters throughout the country and given a free and fair election those supporters are going to do everything to ensure that the party gets a fair share of the votes,” Dabengwa said.

The former Zipra intelligence supremo said his detractors would be shamed by the outcome.

“There are attempts by some parties to frustrate Zapu, but one thing they do not know is that Zapu membership has always been through conviction, long embedded conviction,” Dabengwa said.

His recent rally in Tsholotsho attracted less than 100 supporters, with allegations that Zanu PF had sabotaged the rally by distributing maize and other food hand-outs on the day of the event.

Dabengwa’s party has been rocked by financial woes and the former Home Affairs minister admitted his party is broke.

Dabengwa had to appeal for $20 subscriptions from party supporters in Tsholotsho as a way of boosting party finances.

Dabengwa, who campaigned alongside Makoni in 2008, denies any close links with Makoni’s Mavambo Kusile Dawn now, saying he supported him as an alternative presidential candidate.

“I was never a member of Mavambo. I supported Makoni as an alternative candidate to other presidential candidates. I made it clear during campaigns that for presidency vote for Simba, whilst people could vote for others vying for parliamentary seats,” he said.

Asked whether he finds it expedient to create a coalition with Makoni, Dabengwa said there is need for the creating of an alliance with other parties to ouster the current government.

“The call now is for a united front, in order to get into government.” - Nyasha Chingono