FORMER
vice-president Joice Mujuru yesterday urged people to register to vote in their
millions to prevent the creation of a Mugabe dynasty, saying Zimbabweans do not
deserve the untold suffering they endure on a daily basis because of Zanu PF’s
misrule.
Mujuru, who fronts the National People’s Party (NPP), said
she humbly accepted the People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) nomination to stand as
its presidential candidate against President Robert Mugabe, before expressing
confidence of electoral victory in the 2018 polls.
The former VP made the remarks during the unveiling of the
PRC at Stanley Square in Makokoba high-density suburb in Bulawayo.
The PRC brings together the breakaway People’s Democratic
Party led by Lucia Matibenga, Zimbabweans United for Democracy led by Farai
Mbira and the Democratic Assembly for Reform and Empowerment whose leader is
Gilbert Dzikiti.
The parties also signed their coalition agreement
yesterday.
“Our signing ceremony signifies a milestone journey for the
coalition as we prepare for the 2018 elections,” Mujuru told the crowd.
“It is very satisfying that we have reached this milestone.
Our nation is at stake, and at risk of a dynasty, and it is our duty as a
nation that we come together to face this challenge [dynasty].”
Dzikiti weighed in, saying “Zimbabwe does not belong to any
other person but all Zimbabweans.
“We are at a risk of having a dynasty but we must reject
this as Zimbabweans as Zimbabwe is not a monarchy. We are a constitutional
republic.”
Fears abound Mugabe is pushing for a dynasty following
calls by his Zanu PF structures to elevate first lady Grace to the
vice-president’s post with a view of choosing her as his successor.
According to the PRC agreement, Mujuru is the presidential
candidate while parliamentary, senatorial and council candidates will be chosen
by members of all the four parties in the respective areas, through primary
elections where necessary.
Mujuru said the PRC frowned upon Zanu PF’s “one centre of
power” policy, which she condemned for cultivating a dictatorship and sowing
seeds of poverty among Zimbabweans.
“On October 20, I was humbled by the PRC nomination as the
parties’ presidential candidate for the 2018 elections,” she said.
“It is a responsibility that I will not take lightly. The
leadership that the PRC is striving for is people-centred.
“We reject the one centre of power; we should not entertain
that as the PRC.
“We are people-centred and people-driven and so we must
respect the people we lead. We don’t deserve to be in this predicament we find
ourselves in…”
Matibenga called on ex-combatants to close ranks with
opposition parties to fight Zanu PF and ensure what they fought for during the
liberation struggle was fulfilled when the ruling party is out of power.
“It is important for us to acknowledge these women and men
[war veterans] for what they have done to liberate this country,” she said.
“We have to do this because there is a link between our
fight for democracy and the fight for the liberation of this country. “There is an unfinished business that us and the war
veterans have to fight for and fulfil.” Standard
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