ZUNDE will not be intimidated nor discouraged

Following ZUNDE's successful launch in Harare a few days ago which was covered extensively by both private and public media, some have started questioning the wisdom of forming yet another political party. Others have gone on to personalise attack of some of our leadership. While every comment is not worth a response and people should be free to express themselves, opinions by one Suitable Kajau followed by one Stewart Murewa, caught our attention.

At ZUNDE, we are not aware of any law or requirement that restricts the number of political parties that should operate in Zimbabwe. Like in the game of soccer, each season, some teams are relegated while others are promoted. Team ZUNDE believes that now is our season to get into the top league after nineteen months of intense trials, training, practice and serious introspection.

We did not just wake up one day with the idea to launch ZUNDE. It was a long thought out process that involved wide consultation, criticism and encouragement. True, ZUNDE was formed in the Diaspora but this does not make us a Diaspora party. Given that it was formed in Highfields, why don't we hear anybody referring to Zanu-PF as a Fio party or offshoot of ZAPU because that's precisely where it originated from by way of a disastrous split driven by insatiable appetite for power? That our president, Farai Mbira was at one time chairman for MDC in Wellington, New Zealand, does not disqualify him for any political office outside the MDC structures. Morgan Tsvangirai was once a very active member of Zanu-PF in Bindura, is he not MDC-T president today?

Murewa and Kajau need to be reminded that ZUNDE was not formed in May 2015. Rather, it was formed in October 2013 in response to the political paralysis caused by the blatantly rigged elections of July 2013 in which the opposition participated blindly against all odds. The current implosion in Zanu-PF coupled with the sustained disintegration or at least weakening of the traditional opposition, galvanized us into launching ZUNDE months ahead of planned schedule. Somebody had to step in and it was us. We have made it very clear that we don't have all the answers but we have a plan, a workable agenda, and a practical vision for our potentially great nation.

Stewart Murewa also challenges us to put our strategy in the public domain. Obviously, he is one person who has no clue what the field of strategy entails otherwise he wouldn't have made such a weird proposition. This aspect does not need any further comment. However, Murewa needs to be reminded that ZUNDE is not God, it does not create people but only works with those already in existence for as long as they subscribe to our vision, mission, values and objectives. We all came from somewhere and are very proud of that cross-generational diversity which is one of our key strengths and differentiators.

Suitable Kajau, whose political inclination is a matter of public record given the nature and context of his/her political opinions, miserably failed to drag our vice president, Justice Benjamin Paradza, into the mud. Those without short memory will easily recall that in 1975, Robert Mugabe escaped to Mozambique assisted by Edgar Tekere, Movan Mahachi and Chief Rekayi Tangwena. He was running away from persecution by Ian Smith. He came back five years later and became Prime Minister.

In the 80's, Joshua Nkomo escaped to the UK through Botswana dressed as a woman. He was not being stupid or cowardly, neither was he a fugitive but he was simply running away from tyranny masterminded by none other than Mugabe himself in his moment of madness, by his own admission. Father Zimbabwe later returned to become vice president of Zimbabwe. Undoubtedly, he remains the best and most well-meaning and respected vice president our country has ever had. He never wished to be God so that he could deny oxygen to political opponents as we heard recently from one of the current vice presidents.

Benjamin Paradza's escape to New Zealand in 2006 must be understood in this context. It was a necessary decision and action given knives had been sharpened in preparation to take him to the slaughter house for nothing but exercise of independence, impartiality and professionalism as a judge. He refused to be used as a political tool by Zanu-PF. In typical fashion of history repeating itself, Justice Paradza will one day return to Zimbabwe and participate in the reconstruction of our potentially great nation, in a very critical role. It is only a matter of time. Kajau must be reminded that there are several Zimbabweans in the Diaspora who were forced to flee by a clueless and persecutory regime, from lawyers to journalists, to business people. Gabriel Shumba, Ray Choto, Basildon Peta and James Makamba, are some of the very few examples.

While ZUNDE is not in the habit of commenting on every opinion, if we believe that a comment about us is unfounded or unreasonable, we shall issue a suitable response even if the opinion comes from an unsuitable source calling themselves Suitable something. Having said that, we want to reiterate that ZUNDE will not be intimidated or discouraged by prophets of doom masquerading as opinion authors. We are here to stay.

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Moses Chamboko can be contacted at chambokom@gmail.com, Information and Publicity - ZUNDE