Madhuku launches new political party

The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has transformed itself into a political party with the chairman, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, immediately assuming leadership.

The decision was taken at the organisation's three-day special congress, which ended in Harare yesterday.

In an interview, Prof Madhuku said the party would, in the interim, retain the name, NCA.

"Congress has decided to transform the NCA into a political party and that we remain with the name, NCA.

"This effectively means NCA is now a political party and there is no longer a civic organisation called NCA; it is now a political party," he said.

Prof Madhuku said congress resolved that, "with effect from today (yesterday) September 28 2013, the NCA incorporates the methods and strategies of competing for political office in pursuit of its goals and for the removal of doubt this transforms the NCA into a political party."

The University of Zimbabwe law lecturer said his organisation has decided to use political methods to get a "democratic Constitution" after it failed to push for a "people-driven Constitution" over the last 16 years.

He said the political outfit recognised that many people sacrificed their lives to free the country from colonial oppression. It also supports the Land Reform Programme.

"We respect those who fought for our country's independence and ours is a social democratic movement with a pan-Africanist outlook and with utmost respect for the struggle of our people against colonialism and imperialism," he said.

"I am chairing a taskforce expected to lead the party into convening a congress before 31 March 2014 at which the organisation's new thrust as a political party will be launched and a new leadership elected.

". . . It is clear that we support the land reform and most of the policies which are meant to benefit the majority of Zimbabweans.

"But, as a party, we are yet to decide, for example, on indigenisation and some other Government policies."

Other members of the party's task force include, Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe executive director Takura Zhangazha, former Zinasu leaders Clever Bere, Mr Blessing Vava and Kudakwashe Chakabva.

A political scientist at the University of Zimbabwe who preferred to remain anonymous for professional reasons said: "The NCA was founded and funded by donors until there was a fallout between the donors and Madhuku. One hopes that since the fallout, the NCA has purified itself from its foreign origins and has become a truly indigenous and therefore nationalistic.

"Otherwise what they are doing is well within their rights as Zimbabweans and is not in violation of the Constitution. We hope they will abide by our Constitution."

A senior member of the MDC-T national executive who also preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation said: "There is quite a significant number of MDC-T members who are going to follow Madhuku because the NCA together the ZCTU founded the MDC and the NCA structures were used to mobilise support for the MDC.

"The situation is made worse by the fact that there is so much bickering in the MDC-T now with calls for our leader, Mr Tsvangirai to go.

"Madhuku is seen as a credible figure whose advantage over people like Tendai Biti who is alleged to be working with the likes of Bennet and Ian Kay and some western donors is that just like Tsvangirai, Madhuku is a grassroots politician.

"Of late Madhuku has been winning and dinning with Zanu-PF elements in the hope of acquiring nationalistic credentials which Mr Tsvangirai and Biti have failed to achieve. Lets see how this ambitious project unfold."