NGOs rolls out projects in name of Mujuru's People First

EXPELLED former Vice President Joice Mujuru's putschist cabal is canvasing for grassroots support through non-governmental organisations that are funding some projects under the guise that the help is coming from the People First project.

One of the local NGOs which was registered under the name Vukuzenzele, has raised eyebrows about its motives as it is assisting people in different districts of the country, while claiming that the help is coming from People First.

Some of Vukuzenzele's leaders have been linked to fired former Public Service minister Nicholas Goche, who was accused of plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe.

Former Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa is one of the kingpins behind the People First political project.

A meeting, widely publicised as organised by People First, had been planned for Victoria Falls on Saturday, but was postponed at the 11th hour.

The organisation's regional coordinator in charge of the Southern region, Makhosini Mkandla, said the organisation was registered as Vukuzenzele last year, but "the people" had branded it "People First".

He steadfastly denied that the NGO was involved in political activities.

"The name is just street language coming from the people and it's not on our papers. It's just like the famous slogan "ongafuniyo kayekele" associated with Highlanders Football Club although it's not captured as an official name in their constitution. So we just take it as a people's slogan. Our vision is to put people first and help them," Mkandla said.

He said the event, which would have seen people forming clubs and submitting project proposals, was called off following the death of Goche's son.

It was not immediately possible to verify Mkandla's claims that Goche had lost a son.

The meeting had been set for Chinotimba Stadium and was postponed to a later date.

"We were coming to Victoria Falls to meet residents and introduce projects to them. The meeting was cancelled because some of our leaders were bereaved. We were told that Goche (Nicholas)'s son died and our national coordinator (Robson Mhizha) couldn't come because he is related to the family," Mkandla said.

Asked why Goche's bereavement could stop the meeting, Mkandla said the meeting could not have proceeded in Mhizha's absence.

"This isn't about any political party but about people which is why it's happening when there are no impending elections. Our aim is to start projects for people and they have been told to make proposals which the donor will look at and see if they can be funded," added Mkandla.

"Our organisation is called Vukuzenzele and was registered sometime last year. People First is just a street name from people and I wonder whether there's a political organisation registered in that name. As an organisation, all we advocate for is putting people first in our projects and we're far from Mujuru and Goche. They're not part of our organisation and none of them is in our projects."

He couldn't be drawn into revealing names of the donors who he said were based in South Africa and Nigeria.

Mkandla said a number of projects were already in place in the Midlands in Gokwe, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland where some beneficiaries were already involved in cotton buying and reselling, cattle rearing and other projects.

For Matabeleland North they want to start chicken rearing, piggery and fish projects.

On Saturday some residents of Victoria Falls started trickling to the venue as early as 9AM in anticipation of the meeting.

Efforts to speak to some of the residents by The Chronicle were fruitless as none of them appeared willing to give details after being briefed on the phone.