News / National
Job Sikhala's MDC-99 merges with Madhuku's NCA
06 Nov 2013 at 07:12hrs | Views
Job Sikhala (center) flanked by Ruramai Chenjerai representing the women's league and Herbert Muchada for the youth league
THE MDC 99 and the National Constitutional Assembly today merged to become one political party that will operate in the interim under the NCA banner.
The merger was announced by MDC 99 president Mr Job Sikhala at a press conference in Harare. The NCA was formed just after the July 31 harmonised elections and is led by University of Zimbabwe law lecturer professor Lovemore Madhuku.
"We have been working together on several modalities to see how we can proceed and we have agreed that the MDC 99 merges with the NCA to come out with one political movement that will contest for political power against the current political set up," Mr Sikhala said.
Mr Sikhala said his party had good relations with the NCA since the period of the referendum when they campaigned for a No vote against the adoption of the constitution.
"We enjoyed the growth of our relationship with the NCA since the period of the referendum in March this year when we were a few of those who were not in support of the inclusive Government document.
"Our relationship with the NCA grew from strength to strength from that time when we were the opposing voice to the de-facto one party state that was existing then. The growth of our relationship turned political later when we had to sit down and chat the way forward and come up with a different political movement that will give a different voice from the current chorus that has been echoing in our country," he said.
Mr Sikhala said they were currently in the process of integrating their grassroots structures ahead of their inaugural congress to be held by March next year.
He was, however, evasive on the position he will occupy in the current set up.
"Our roadmap is clear we are not worried about the issue of positions, they will define themselves at the time of the congress. We are not worried about the scramble for positions and every individual will be in the national taskforce with equal power," he said.
NCA spokesperson Mr Murdoch Chivasa who also attended the press conference confirmed the merger.
"We are now working together under the banner of the NCA and currently the integration process of our structures from the provinces, districts and branches is ongoing.
"Other issues will be discussed at the congress," Mr Chivasa said.
The MDC 99 was formed in 2010 by Mr Sikhala after he fell out with the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube.
At the time he said his party stood for the values that led to the formation of the united MDC in 1999.
The merger was announced by MDC 99 president Mr Job Sikhala at a press conference in Harare. The NCA was formed just after the July 31 harmonised elections and is led by University of Zimbabwe law lecturer professor Lovemore Madhuku.
"We have been working together on several modalities to see how we can proceed and we have agreed that the MDC 99 merges with the NCA to come out with one political movement that will contest for political power against the current political set up," Mr Sikhala said.
Mr Sikhala said his party had good relations with the NCA since the period of the referendum when they campaigned for a No vote against the adoption of the constitution.
"We enjoyed the growth of our relationship with the NCA since the period of the referendum in March this year when we were a few of those who were not in support of the inclusive Government document.
"Our relationship with the NCA grew from strength to strength from that time when we were the opposing voice to the de-facto one party state that was existing then. The growth of our relationship turned political later when we had to sit down and chat the way forward and come up with a different political movement that will give a different voice from the current chorus that has been echoing in our country," he said.
Mr Sikhala said they were currently in the process of integrating their grassroots structures ahead of their inaugural congress to be held by March next year.
"Our roadmap is clear we are not worried about the issue of positions, they will define themselves at the time of the congress. We are not worried about the scramble for positions and every individual will be in the national taskforce with equal power," he said.
NCA spokesperson Mr Murdoch Chivasa who also attended the press conference confirmed the merger.
"We are now working together under the banner of the NCA and currently the integration process of our structures from the provinces, districts and branches is ongoing.
"Other issues will be discussed at the congress," Mr Chivasa said.
The MDC 99 was formed in 2010 by Mr Sikhala after he fell out with the MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube.
At the time he said his party stood for the values that led to the formation of the united MDC in 1999.
Source - herald
