OWN CORRESPONDENT, Harare | Monday 8.00pm
A NEW political party, the Zimbabwe People’s Convention, was officially launched in Harare on Saturday to promote democracy, transparency and accountable governance.
ZPC spokesman Obey Mudzingwa said at a news conference that Zimbabwe needed political plurality as the current situation had degenerated into a one-man gang.
“Political contributions are not supposed to come from one individual, in this case [President] Robert Mugabe, but from a broader thinking that is borne of all Zimbabweans,” Mudzingwa said. “Today we are saying we cannot accept that any more. Zimbabwe has many potential leaders and administrators.”
Mudzingwa, a medical doctor and former University of Zimbabwe student leader, said the time had come for the country to be ruled by a new generation and that Mugabe’s Zanu PF government had outlived its usefulness.
“Mugabe should not go around the country telling people that he was associated with the [liberation] war. If I had been of age I would have been also involved with the war.
“The war was fought and won and Mugabe had his time to run the country. He is not supposed to destroy the country. I think every leader comes and goes. It is time a for new leader to take over and address the bread-and-butter issues,” he said.
Mudzingwa said that if his party wins power, it will trim the size of government and cut down on expenditure, reduce taxes and put in place incentives to attract foreign investment.