News / Regional
MDC-T rebels launch new political party
14 Nov 2013 at 04:16hrs | Views
Former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) members who were expelled from the party after contesting as independents in the July 31 polls which they also lost have formed a new political party.
Felix Magalela Mafa, a former legislator for Magwegwe constituency and one of the founding members of the new party, said the new kid on the political bloc was using a provisional name - Independent Candidates Coalition (ICC).
The party currently draws the bulk of its membership from the three Matabeleland provinces, Midlands and Masvingo.
Mafa said ICC was keen on seeing the country prosper, adding that the party stood for democracy in Zimbabwe.
"The ICC was formed by progressive and visionary members; we are strategists and strategists do not spill their strategy in public," said Mafa.
"We urge progressive members of the public to join ICC whether you are from Zanu-PF or MDC. We have transformed from being a loose coalition to a new political party called the third force that wants to see and achieve a democratic, developmental and prosperous Zimbabwe."
ICC has appointed an interim steering committee to lead the party into elections in 2018.
But analysts do not think the party would make an impact in Zimbabwe.
Thomas Sithole, a political analyst, said its formation represents another step backwards.
"It's a milestone backwards. Felix Mafa and his colleagues are headed for a political oblivion and demise if they are not careful," he said.
"I think they would have added value by working with MDCs in coming up with a viable and vibrant opposition coalition or movement that can offer alternatives to Zanu-PF."
Sithole said with Zimbabweans still smarting from a traumatising decimation of the opposition, the answer does not lie in increasing the number of political parties but consolidating them.
Another political analyst, Rodrick Fayayo, said the move by Mafa and his colleagues was a welcome development and would help bring pluralism in Zimbabwe but cast doubt on its ability to bring change to the country.
"In terms of democracy it is a win-win situation but I doubt if ICC has the stamina to bring about change," he said.
"This party was formed by people who were rejected by their constituencies and political party. These are people who stood as independents and lost dismally."
Felix Magalela Mafa, a former legislator for Magwegwe constituency and one of the founding members of the new party, said the new kid on the political bloc was using a provisional name - Independent Candidates Coalition (ICC).
The party currently draws the bulk of its membership from the three Matabeleland provinces, Midlands and Masvingo.
Mafa said ICC was keen on seeing the country prosper, adding that the party stood for democracy in Zimbabwe.
"The ICC was formed by progressive and visionary members; we are strategists and strategists do not spill their strategy in public," said Mafa.
"We urge progressive members of the public to join ICC whether you are from Zanu-PF or MDC. We have transformed from being a loose coalition to a new political party called the third force that wants to see and achieve a democratic, developmental and prosperous Zimbabwe."
ICC has appointed an interim steering committee to lead the party into elections in 2018.
But analysts do not think the party would make an impact in Zimbabwe.
Thomas Sithole, a political analyst, said its formation represents another step backwards.
"It's a milestone backwards. Felix Mafa and his colleagues are headed for a political oblivion and demise if they are not careful," he said.
"I think they would have added value by working with MDCs in coming up with a viable and vibrant opposition coalition or movement that can offer alternatives to Zanu-PF."
Sithole said with Zimbabweans still smarting from a traumatising decimation of the opposition, the answer does not lie in increasing the number of political parties but consolidating them.
Another political analyst, Rodrick Fayayo, said the move by Mafa and his colleagues was a welcome development and would help bring pluralism in Zimbabwe but cast doubt on its ability to bring change to the country.
"In terms of democracy it is a win-win situation but I doubt if ICC has the stamina to bring about change," he said.
"This party was formed by people who were rejected by their constituencies and political party. These are people who stood as independents and lost dismally."
Source - fingaz
