‘People First stole our name’

Report by The Zimbabwean

A new party called Zimbabwe First has claimed that People First – a movement set up by expelled Zanu (PF) members – stole its name.

Mark Makovore, spokesperson of Zimbabwe First claimed his party started operating mid-way last year, well before the formation of People First, led by Joice Mujuru.

Makovore’s party will be launched in Murewa in Mashonaland East at the weekend – joining a multiplicity of other political parties planning to contest in the 2018 general elections.

“We will not bog ourselves down fighting over names and titles as there are more important and pressing issues to deal with, but the truth is that People First is our original name and was stolen from us,” Makovore told The Zimbabwean yesterday.

Zimbabwe First is currently led by the US-based principal coordinator Maxwell Shumba – a former advisor to Morgan Tsvangirai. The new party’s publicity secretary said their organisation did not have a president yet, adding that Shumba broke ranks with Tsvangirai when the MDC-T leader failed to heed his call for a political convergence.

“We are certainly going to contest in the 2018 general elections. We believe in the three fundamental principles of accountability, honesty and unity and we are saying we are tired of recycled leaders. Our major difference from other parties is our emphasis on technocrats who must work to get Zimbabwe working again,” he said.

“There is no contradiction between us choosing to form a party and working towards a political convergence. When the time for the convergence comes, those involved will ask who you are, so you need to position yourself.”