Mujuru camp not forming new party

By Ndimyake Mwakalyele

Outsted Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo says former Vice President Joice Mujuru and some top Zanu PF members, who were sidelined at the party’s congress last month, will not form a new party to challenge President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

Gumbo told VOA Studio 7 they will fight for democracy while still in Zanu PF instead of forming a party. He said they will not be forced by some people, who did not participate in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, to leave Zanu PF.

“We don’t intend to form a party at all. We are fighting within and Mai (Mrs) Mujuru has said she is not leaving the party, no one will push her out of the party, Mutasa has said he is not going to be pushed out of the party and my views have always been clear on that one,” said the veteran politician.

He said their fight is not for political positions in Zanu PF but for the creation of a nation based on some principles of the liberation struggle of the 1970s, including the demand for one person, one vote.

But political analyst Professor Shadreck Guto of the University of South Africa argues that Mrs. Mujuru’s group should rebrand and launch a formidable opposition party.

“… Joice Mujuru, Didymus Mutasa and so on who have been thrown out this time around have the right to fight against those who have thrown them out because they were in the liberation movement together, they know each other well,” said Professor Guto.

He added that these Zanu PF officials are capable of transforming themselves into a movement that can challenge President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party.

“It will need those who were thrown out like Joice Mujuru, Didymus Mutasa and others to change their midset. They have been thrown out of Zanu PF but the question is for them to re-invent themselves and if they are unable to re-invent themselves then everything else will continue and Zanu PF will continue to damage country,” said Professor Guto.

Zanu PF activist and political commentator, Fidelis Fengu, said the current political environment is not conducive for the launching of another political party.

Based on the 2013 general election, he said, “I think Zimbabweans are not yet ready to be ruled by anybody else who is not President Mugabe.” VOA Studio 7