(Last Updated on September 10, 2015 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – Harare – Ousted Zimbabwean vice president Joice Mujuru is reportedly very likely to join hands with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, as the country gears up for the crucial 2018 elections.
According to News Day, Mujuru and Tsvangirai were ready to form a united front with the aim of forcing President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party out of power.
Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
Mujuru released a political manifesto on Tuesday, signalling her possible intention to launch a new party to challenge Mugabe.
She published a policy statement titled the Blueprint to Unlock Investment and Leverage for Development (Build). The document outlined her plans to revive Zimbabwe’s ailing economy and strengthen democratic rights.
The manifesto also called for all Zimbabweans to have access to land.
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF dismissed Mujuru’s manifesto, saying it did not feel threatened as a party.
Mujuru was kicked out of the ruling party last year, together with other senior party officials, following allegations of plotting against Mugabe.
Mujuru denied the allegations.
According to the state-controlled Herald newspaper, Zanu-PF’s national secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo said his party was unperturbed by Mujuru’s manifesto.
“That’s no issue to discuss. We have a lot of serious matters to discuss. Former vice president Mujuru was expelled from this party, so why should we waste our time discussing a person that has been expelled from the party?” Chombo was quoted as saying.
Mugabe loyalist Psychology Maziwisa criticised Mujuru’s manifesto as an “anti-Zimbabwe project” and “destructive”.
Maziwisa posted on his Facebook page: “Joice Mujuru‘s BUILD is the most anti-Zimbabwe project by a Zimbabwean opposition politician since Tsvangirai’s formation of the MDC 16 years ago.
Far from being constructive, it was a destructive and contemptible manifesto that should be roundly condemned by all progress-loving Zimbabweans, he said.
“By proposing to give land to ‘anyone who calls Zimbabwe home’ for example, Mujuru has shown herself to be shamelessly sycophantic and grossly anti-people and risks taking Zimbabwe back 35 years.”
Mujuru’s manifesto came a few weeks after Mugabe outlined his government’s plan to improve the country’s economy.
Mugabe presented a 10-point plan which included boosting agricultural growth, encouraging private sector investment and fighting graft.