News / National
Little known Mponda launches a political party
15 May 2013 at 03:41hrs | Views
A NEW party, the Freedom Front Party, was launched yesterday, bringing to 29 the number of parties that are set to contest the forthcoming harmonised elections.
FFP president Mr Cosmas Mponda, 39, who arrived nearly an hour late for the press conference, admitted he had no political background in the country and has never contested for any political post.
In an interview yesterday, Mponda said the bickering in the inclusive Government and economic challenges facing the country had prompted them to form the party.
Muponda, a college graduate with a diploma in marketing and an advanced certificate in sign writing, declared he was the "best" alternative to the current Mugabe-led government.
"We formed the party after realising that the inclusive Government has failed to solve the problems facing the country due to continued squabbling. We want to ensure that people have access to water, electricity and proper infrastructure," he said.
Mr Mponda said his party would also avail resources to university and college graduates to start their own businesses.
"We will strive to provide our graduates with funds to start their own businesses. While we support the land reform programme, we believe
Government has not done much to support the new farmers so our focus will also be on supporting new farmers," Mr Mponda said.
He added that the indigenisation programme should not target existing companies but should create new ones.
Mr Mponda said his party's membership was funding the operations of the party and that the party was not receiving any external support.
Mponda is adamant that he had enough support around the country to upstage the President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the two MDCs which have dominated the country's political landscape over the last decade.
"I feel it. I have got it in me. If those with the political background can't make it, then who else should come in and do that," he said.
The Mutare-born presidential hopeful insisted that party structures were firm on the ground adding he had other figures with stronger political backgrounds behind him.
Muponda, a resident of Harare's affluent Highlands suburb, was evasive when asked about his political approach towards the next elections but said they will not wad into the current debate around the date for the next polls.
He said he was a former musician and businessman with interest "hardware, granite and motor industry" but refused to shed more light on his business activities.
FFP president Mr Cosmas Mponda, 39, who arrived nearly an hour late for the press conference, admitted he had no political background in the country and has never contested for any political post.
In an interview yesterday, Mponda said the bickering in the inclusive Government and economic challenges facing the country had prompted them to form the party.
Muponda, a college graduate with a diploma in marketing and an advanced certificate in sign writing, declared he was the "best" alternative to the current Mugabe-led government.
"We formed the party after realising that the inclusive Government has failed to solve the problems facing the country due to continued squabbling. We want to ensure that people have access to water, electricity and proper infrastructure," he said.
Mr Mponda said his party would also avail resources to university and college graduates to start their own businesses.
"We will strive to provide our graduates with funds to start their own businesses. While we support the land reform programme, we believe
He added that the indigenisation programme should not target existing companies but should create new ones.
Mr Mponda said his party's membership was funding the operations of the party and that the party was not receiving any external support.
Mponda is adamant that he had enough support around the country to upstage the President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the two MDCs which have dominated the country's political landscape over the last decade.
"I feel it. I have got it in me. If those with the political background can't make it, then who else should come in and do that," he said.
The Mutare-born presidential hopeful insisted that party structures were firm on the ground adding he had other figures with stronger political backgrounds behind him.
Muponda, a resident of Harare's affluent Highlands suburb, was evasive when asked about his political approach towards the next elections but said they will not wad into the current debate around the date for the next polls.
He said he was a former musician and businessman with interest "hardware, granite and motor industry" but refused to shed more light on his business activities.
Source - herald
