Mujuru allies regroup to form new political party

via Mujuru allies regroup to form new political party – NewsDay Zimbabwe May 5, 2015

OUSTED and suspended Zanu PF members have reportedly started reviving their disbanded structures and mobilising support in preparation for the launch of a new party which could be led by expelled former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, NewsDay has learnt.

BY OBEY MANAYITI

Informed sources said leaders who were elbowed out were busy on the ground canvassing support for Mujuru, who has not yet publicly announced her future political plans.

This came amid reports that some of her allies had filed to contest the June 10 parliamentary by-elections as independent candidates to test their popularity.

The alleged regrouping exercise was allegedly targeting all provincial leaders who were booted out of the ruling party or given five-year suspensions for being linked to the Mujuru camp.

In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, the group’s spokesperson and ex-Zanu PF secretary for publicity Rugare Gumbo said: “People have a democratic right to organise themselves. We cannot deny them that. It’s the people on the ground who are resisting the imposition of leaders on them. We will continue to work with the people who were disadvantaged.”

Gumbo added: “We will support their cause. Whatever they are doing we will support them because we didn’t support their expulsion and we will continue encouraging them to maintain their structures.”

Asked why disbanded structures were being resuscitated, Gumbo quipped: “Why should they be dissolved?”

The majority of party leaders reportedly aligned to Mujuru were unceremoniously expelled last year and the purge has so far claimed the scalps of 16 ministers and their deputies, and 10 ruling party provincial chairpersons across the country.

“Our strategy is that all those who were fired through votes of no confidence should keep on doing their work on the ground,” a close source who refused to be named said.

“We are doing that at the provincial level downwards and it involves the main wing, Women’s League and the youths. We do everything in consultation and so far things are moving on well.”

However, some officials linked to the project yesterday distanced themselves saying they still expected to be pardoned by the ruling party. On the other hand, former Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti said: “That is done by people who were fired. I was not fired from the party and I am a full member. I am not in those structures.”