Little known political parties unpacked

Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that Zimbabwe should hold its harmonised elections by July 31 this year. Although a few political parties are against the deadline, a total of 28 parties have registered to participate in the polls and are already preparing. Below, we publish profiles of the less-known political outfits eyeing national governance.



Progressive and Innovative Movement of Zimbabwe (PIMZ)
Formed: 2012
Leader: Mr Tendai Peter Munyanduri
Membership: The party claims to have around one million members
Policies and strategy

A Marondera-based engineer, Mr Munyanduri told The Sunday Mail last week that his party's election message centres on job creation, accommodation and a vibrant health sector. He said through a national development plan, the party will guarantee the attainment of items on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs such as food, shelter and health.

"The National Development Plan starts by trying to identify those issues adversely affecting the people, for example, inconsistent water supply, electricity outages, infrastructural inadequacy, cholera and typhoid caused by poor sanitation, unemployment, low salaries, housing shortages, inadequate food and lack of national motivation," he said.

Mr Munyanduri said as part of the grand plan, the PIMZ intends to augment the country's food reserves by planting fruit trees along streets and highways while music, sport and the film industries will be developed to match international standards.

The party will also get a hotline which will link the public to "their president and the president's office", he added.

 

Rebuilding Party of Zimbabwe (RPZ)
Formed: January 7, 2012
Leader: Mr Everisto Chikanga
Membership: Unknown
Policies and strategy

Initially, Mr Chikanga worked closely with Mr Kissnot Mukwazhi of the Zimbabwe Development Party. He, however, broke away to form his own party following ideological differences.

The party says it seeks to build the nation based on the foundation already in place. It also aims to promote unity only achievable through acts of love and friendship with our neighbours.

"The foundation herein referred to is composed of our independence and sovereignty, the educational empowerment achieved, the land resettlement programme and the indigenisation and economic empowerment Act," said Mr Chikanga.

"As a party, we promise our government will work hard to preserve all the gains of the liberation struggle once we are in power . . . The Bible is our guiding principle."

Mr Chikanga also said the party will field candidates in all constituencies, adding that he is already planning to name the new cabinet ministers as he is ready to govern.



United Movement for Democracy (UMD)
Formed: January 7, 2013
Membership: An in-house audit claims the party has 221 000 members
Leader: No president yet
Executive: Information and publicity secretary Advocate Tina Kadhu; membership and election committee head Miss Rebecca Kashiri, constitutional and disciplinary committee head Mr Terrence Songelo Mhlophe and finance and administration committee head Mr Daniel Sibanda.


The party is yet set to set up a national leadership structure.

Policies and strategy
Party acting spokesperson Mr Ashrai Mawere said his party is an economic revolutionary political outfit whose thrust is centred on economic development, poverty reduction, addressing unemployment and solving inequalities.

"We are a party of disgruntled Zimbabweans whose thrust towards economic emancipation was affected by the economic policies of previous governments, and that is the reason many people have linked us to successful businessmen who are now based outside the country like Strive Masiyiwa and Mutumwa Mawere, among others," he said.

"After political liberation and the fight for civil liberties, it is now time for economic revolution."