Source: We will right Zim’s wrongs in 2 years — Kasiyamhuru – DailyNews Live
Blessings Mashaya 3 February 2018
HARARE – Our reporter Blessings Mashaya speaks to opposition Zimbabwe
Partnership for Prosperity (Zipp) president Blessing Kasiyamhuru, 40, a
successful businessman and academic who is running for president. Find
below excerpts of the interview.
Q: From the campaigns you have done so far and the publicity you have
received, I know a number of people now know who you are, but there are
others who still want to know who Kasiyamhuru is.
A: Yes, thank you. I am a Zimbabwean born in Kambuzama, Harare, and I did
my primary schooling at Glen View Primary before I was transferred to
Gokomere. I completed my education in Murewa before going to further my
studies in Britain and South Africa. In terms of my educational
qualifications, I have got a Masters’ degree in Development Finance,
Masters’ in Business Leadership, Masters’ in Business Administration. I
also have got PhD in Public and Development Management, PhD in
Administration, a PhD in Political Economy.
Q: Apart from politics, what is your line of work?
A: I am a passionate researcher but in terms of work, I have my own
company and I am chief executive officer of Global Brands Consulting. All
my career life, I have worked as a strategic consultant within the Sadc
region, advising governments and advising corporates, hence the formation
of Global Brands Consulting which offers solutions throughout the region.
Q: What motivated you to form a political party?
A: Spiritual intelligence and it is always something that drives Zipp. It
is more of a calling because I am not a politician; I am more of an
academic and an entrepreneur. But the calling within me and the love and
passion for Zimbabwe pushed me. At first I thought it was not going to be
easy but the urge kept on knocking and I thought we have to do something
for Zimbabwe because every time when my country is spoken in bad light, it
really affects me. I always pondered why those in the Diaspora have a
false sense of material world; that we would have nice cars but discover
that at the end of the day, this does not help us at all. When I was
through with my education career at the University of Stellenbosch, I
would always meet Zimbabweans dominating. So I said if we are dominating
the region, why can’t we go and plant it back home and improve our
environment. With that spiritual calling that kept on coming whether
through dreams or through visions, I thought God was saying something and
we need to go and usher in economic independence in our country. It
started with God. He said there is a generational mandate to be undertaken
in Zimbabwe and I immediately responded to that generational calling to
usher in economic freedom.
Q: Politics the world over is a dirty game. You are coming from a
Christian background, you are an academic, tell me how will you manage the
campaigns given the hostility and violence that will come from other
political parties as the contest intensifies?
A: I don’t view other political parties as violent and I respect them as
our elders. As for those in Zanu PF, I am informed by spiritual
intelligence that we acknowledge their contributions – the war veterans
and all the liberation founding fathers, they are our fathers.
Q: But you acknowledge that politics is dirty…
A: We made politics dirty; politics is not dirty even by definition. After
we are done with politics, we want to be as white as snow and for me,
politics is not dirty, it is how we deal with that which makes it dirty.
It’s actually the mind-set of the people of Zimbabwe which needs to be
changed because wherever you are, even in Diaspora, they are saying
politics is dirty and you say where did you witness the dirt, they don’t
even mention one dirty event. So whatever environment we find ourselves
in, we should not be cry-babies but I still maintain that politics is not
dirty. It is a mandate that we are carrying that is godly that we are
saying enter the environment with peace. Our revolution is an economic
one; all revolutionaries write their own scripts. We would like to change
politics for the future generation.
Q: And what is your position on Gukurahundi, how should it be addressed?
A: The Gukurahundi issue has to be dealt with and there are legal
processes we must follow, hence our vision. We say Chirere chigokurera,
vana vanoripira mhosva dzamadzibaba. It is for us now to go and say how
can we make the environment better. We acknowledge that whatever went
wrong with our fathers, we need to correct.
Q: The biometric voter registration, we hear that Zanu PF is demanding
registration slips in rural areas…
A: That is unconstitutional; people must just abide by the law. Our people
are registering to vote, we are coming as a solution-oriented party, and
we need to improve this environment.
Q: How is your perception of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec)?
A: Whenever we had party gatherings, we have had some Zec people and they
are very friendly. We should stop demonising our institution as
Zimbabweans. As president of Zipp, I don’t have problem with Zec. We must
stop complaining and support Zec. We need to encourage our people to go
and register to vote. Power is in the people, so we encourage them to
register to vote.
Q: Do you see yourself winning this year’s presidential election?
A: We would not have started this journey if we were not comfortable with
the outcome. The outcome is a victory. We are being received well in all
districts. This is a mandate. It begins with God and it will end with God.
God is the one who appoints kings, that’s why we acknowledge President
Emmerson Mnangagwa and former president Robert Mugabe and we are grateful
to them for their services. But this year is our year; we are a government
in-waiting.
Q: Are you going to campaign in rural areas?
A: We are almost done with three quarters of the rural areas. We have held
our campaigns in Mutare, Mhondoro, Hwange, Nyanga, Nkayi, Binga,
Murombedzi, Marondera among other many areas. This is a product of
research. So we know that the electorate is in the rural areas. We went on
the ground where it matters most.
Q: Many opposition parties are struggling financially, how are you
managing?
A: Being a movement started by God, it’s easy for us and myself being a
CEO of a large organisation, I also have friends that are CEOs and
captains of industries, so we can do our thing as Zimbabweans. We don’t
need anyone to empower us with resources so that he can capture us, anyone
who gives you resources can control you. We are using our own resources. I
am drawing from my own account. Zipp is an organisation that was founded
on godly principled. Our God is in control.
Q: Are you going to join hands with other opposition parties to fight Zanu
PF?
A: Zipp is formidable on its own. Our ideologies are different. We are
saying we are a peaceful party. We don’t have slogans, we don’t say down
with anyone and how can we merge with someone who insults others? We begin
this journey with God and the only logical coalition is to unite with the
one we started with – God.
Q: What do you promise the people of Zimbabwe?
A: Canaan, a land of honey and milk. We only need two years to correct
what needs to be corrected and build the sleeping giant of Africa by 2020.
This is now spiritual. Zimbabwe inenge yava uchi nemukaka – all
Zimbabweans will be flocking back here.
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