via NGO transforms into political outfit – DailyNews Live 17 November 2015
BULAWAYO – Inspired by South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters founded by outspoken former ANC youth league president Julius Malema, the Zimbabwe Unemployed People’s Association (Zupa) has transformed itself into a fully-fledged political party going by the name Economic Corruption Freedom Fighters (ECFF).
Since inception in 2011, Zupa has been pushing for the interests of millions of economically disadvantaged people in the country, albeit with limited success.
With unemployment hovering at over 80 percent and companies shutting down on a weekly basis, Zupa said the only way to go is to form a political party that can challenge the already existing parties and seek redress through the ballot box.
Addressing journalists on Sunday, ECFF president Innocent Ndibali said their mission was to rescue Zimbabweans from “decades of economic bondage”.
“We could not fulfil the objectives of Zupa because of lack of political teeth hence our decision to come up with a political outfit,” Ndibali said.
He said the party will be launched not later than March next year, two years before the country plunges into a watershed election to be held in 2018.
“We are already building up through our Zupa structures existing in different parts of the country,” he said.
The Zupa official accused Zanu PF of spawning the present economic woes, saying it is under “President Robert Mugabe’s watch that Zimbabwe has been reduced from a bread basket to a basket case” of Africa.
“At independence, we acquired political freedom from white minority rule, but we never got to enjoy the economic freedom as the government that took over led by Mugabe simply ruined it.
“It’s not a secret that when Mugabe and his cronies took over this country, it was one of the best economies not only in Africa but in the world. It was a destination of choice not only for investors but for tourists too but now all that is left is history,” he said.
Ndibali said while Zanu PF has been allowed to destroy the livelihoods of many long-suffering Zimbabweans, it was time someone spelt their doom.
“We want to restructure our national economy, fight unemployment, corruption and a plethora of useless poor Chinese investment. Our economy must have a clear solid goal of being the most effective and competitive on both domestic and world markets.”
Asked about his party’s links to Malema’s outfit, Ndibali claimed that he “assisted Malema at their formation of his party and I can confirm that at this stage they are also keen to work with us. We have met several times”.
COMMENTS
Since when did the ballot box bring about change,not in 38 years anyway?
This makes a lot of common sense via literature in general.
Henceforth, The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Aba Dala bathi; “Solibona ukuthi lidube ngamabala. So far they are talking the talk very well indeed. But are they going to walk the walk as well? That is the question! Remain to be see.
That said I 100% agree with president Innocent Ndibali’s ideology. Now will this be their philosophy as a whole? Remains to be tried and tested.
I salute you Zupa@ECFF.
Your 100% Supporter and Member.
Victor Nqoba Mageza Ngwenyama
I used to hear that many people especially Matebeland have always aspired the goings on in SA. Some when they cross over to SA, they abandon even their names take on ids that states they were born in SA and are from KZN or similar places. Some have evn adopted the Zulu culture of slaughtering a cow/goat and then cut a string of skin tie it around their wrist or head. If you check their flocking to SA for search of employment, one may be forgiven that is due to challenges in the country. Now with the new party that even sound like EFF, this shows how barren their minds are. Insteady peopel should focus on fighting what is considered their enemy. What that mean to me is that if this ECFF get any seat, they will be so noise about everything because they have not any mind of their on, they are like parrots of EFF. Malema is already noise, and some how confused since they people in his part seem directionless except noise and wearing red overall and driving expensive cars, what a contradiction