MDC-T, Zanu-PF, ZimPF snub NCP launch

AFTER more than a year after it was first conceived, retired Anglican bishop Sebastian Bakare yesterday launched the National Convergence Platform (NCP) at a low-key event, which was snubbed by leaders of major political parties.

The NCP, which had virtually been abandoned following allegations that it had been hijacked by political parties, seeks to create a non-political party platform for Zimbabweans to engage and dialogue over the problems besotting the country.

Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe leader Elton Mangoma and Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa were the only notable senior politicians at the launch.

Tendai Biti's People's Democratic Party was also represented by its officials.

MDC-T, Zanu PF, Zimbabwe People First and MDC did not attend.

Bakare said the NCP had invited all political parties and had received assurances of attendance, although these were not honoured.

"We invited all political parties and they had confirmed. We are not going to mention names, but we know they would have wanted to come," he said.

NCP vice-chairman and former MDC-T Buhera West legislator, Eric Matinenga, said the platform would steer clear of politics.

"We don't align ourselves to a political party, we are not a surrogate of a political party. We are not an affiliate of a political party, but we cannot ignore the political set-up in this country," he said.

Matinenga said everything that had gone wrong in Zimbabwe was due to bad politics.

"We cannot be indifferent to the politics of this country. I think you will agree with me that the problems in this country today are traced to our politics," he said.

"It is our politics, with respect, which has led to the loss of our confidence in our fiscal and monetary policies."

NCP said it would create a platform to engage and dialogue over these issues.