A Time for Truth, A Time for Transformation and A Time to
BUILD
Today is a historic day.
Today we present ourselves to you in humility and the humbling
comfort of the people’s support. There has been intense speculation
from our detractors. There has been strong anticipation from our
supporters. We had to resist the temptation. The temptation to
formalize our being and existence without adequate consultation with
the people of Zimbabwe. This is a day of great significance in our
great country’s political history. Today we confirm the existence of a
viable, home grown and inclusive political party. It is now public
knowledge that:
ZIMBABWE PEOPLE FIRST IS HERE!
ZIMBABWE PEOPLE FIRST IS NOW!
The times we are living in call for truth to correct our past wrongs,
change for good, unity and determination to BUILD a new Zimbabwe
in peace. Zimbabwe faces an urgent need for political, economic, and
social reform.
2.We are living under an unjust system. There is selective application of
the law, one for the poor and powerless, one for the rich and
powerful, one for opposition party supporters and one for ruling party
supporters.
The right to self-determination and self–dignity has disappeared. The
ordinary person’s capacity to earn a living continues to disappear.
People’s savings have long since disappeared. Government itself
faces a severe cash squeeze. Many of our civil servants work
tirelessly without adequate tools or resources, not to mention lack of
timely and adequate remuneration.
Zimbabwe does not even have a currency of its own for nearly ten
years now. Infrastructure is old and dilapidated and urgently in need
of repair, if not complete replacement with the most modern
technology. The investment environment is crowded by multiple
incoherent policies; inadequate and unaffordable credit finance and an
urgent need to reform a parasitic, non-performing parastatal sector.
3. This has given rise to economic decay in both urban and rural centers
across the whole country. Zimbabwe urgently needs investor friendly
and market driven policies to stimulate economic activity. In order for
all this to take effect, the scourge of corruption will need to be totally
uprooted so that the nation is rid of this cancer and evil spirit.
There is an urgent need to create jobs for the huge growing army of
unemployed and hopeless people out there. A wholesale review of the
Indigenisation Act will be effected. We shall instead, emphasise
Economic Empowerment that attracts investment and promotes the
broad based socio-economic and infrastructure development
objectives of BUILD. The Agricultural, Banking, Financial,
Manufacturing, Mining and Tourism sectors are all in need of well
designed restructuring to make them geared to a 21st century
emerging African economy that creates jobs and promotes economic
growth.
4. Faced with an imminent drought season and a political management
team without focus, there is no credit finance, no irrigation
infrastructure and no marketing mechanisms to mitigate the
agricultural challenges that lie ahead. Farmers lack adequate inputs
and where the few farmers produce, they find no markets. A welldefined
land policy should be instituted and properly administered to
ensure full and sustainable utilization of land by recipients. There
should be an independent land audit to weed out multiple farm
ownership and to support sustainable land use.
A more acceptable security of tenure will replace the “offer letter”
which leaves both recipients and lenders very insecure. Bankable and
transferable leases are not an option but a given.
Zimbabwe is a broken country. In dark times such as this, we look to
the government of the day to serve as BUILDERS of a better country
for all. We look to the government of the day to bring the change that
is desired by all. We know we will not get this from the government
of the day. It has broken the social contract that should exist with the
Zimbabwean people. The people of Zimbabwe voted for a new
democratic constitution in 2013 but it is still to be fully implemented.
In line with the new constitution, we need the electoral laws reformed
to ensure a free and level playing field. Is the government of the day
5. looking at this? NO. The suffering masses through their political
representations, need to make this point loud and clear, so that the
next election is not in any way disputed or considered flawed or
rigged so as to deny legitimacy to any outcome thereof.
Our great nation is crying out for transformation.
My fellow citizens, change and hope lie in the promise of honesty and
hard work. Zimbabwe People First stands for accountability, hard
work and transparency to BUILD a better Zimbabwe. Corruption in
any form at any level has no room in a Zimbabwe People First
government. This is the commitment of Zimbabwe People First to
you. The commitment to serve Zimbabwe honestly and justly. The
commitment to bring about change. Our Blueprint to Unlock
Investment and Leverage for Development (BUILD) outlines our
policy thrust to change Zimbabwe for good.
6. Zimbabwe People First believes in a Zimbabwe that belongs to all
people who call it home, regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender,
nationality, political affiliation, race, or religious affiliation. This was
an important value of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and Zimbabwe
People First is entirely devoted to this particular value. Zimbabwe
People First is therefore an inclusive party. It is a party made of many,
a diversity of Zimbabweans brought together by common values
inherent in us and the vision for our nation that we carry and the
realization that we have to save this great nation from wanton
destruction by those who do not see what the people value and want.
Zimbabwe People First is informed by the values of Zimbabwe’s
liberation struggle. The legacy of the liberation struggle belongs to all
Zimbabweans. We fought for the right to self determination, the right
to freedom, the right to vote under the principle of one person one
vote and NOT one “man” voting for us ALL. One of Zimbabwe’s
greatest sons in the liberation war, General Josiah Magama
Tongogara, once said: “We are not fighting against the white man.
We are fighting against a system. It is the system, the system, that
system which is unjust”. Today that unjust system ZANLA, ZIPRA
and the Zimbabwean masses fought against, remains a noose around
our necks, as that system has stolen any hope for the people of
Zimbabwe.
7. Zimbabwe People First is a dynamic party that embraces the future. A
party that offers transformation and hope to the young and old people
of Zimbabwe. A party that will remove the unjust system once and
for all through economic, political and social reform.
Zimbabwe People First believes in a Zimbabwe where the civil
service is apolitical, efficient, meritocratic, professional and
transparent in its conduct. Without these traits, we cannot BUILD a
better Zimbabwe. We cannot bring about change and restore hope.
The effective civil service we shall assemble provides a basis for the
vibrant economy we aim to BUILD. We shall encourage and institute
e-government throughout the service to achieve set targets by set
timelines and curb corruption. We shall ensure that government’s role
is to facilitate, promote, regulate for a level and a sustainably stable
economic playing field.
8. Zimbabwe People First is committed to ensuring that Zimbabwe
regains its rightful place in the global community of nations. We shall
rejoin the Commonwealth. We shall be committed to meeting our
international debt obligations. We will seek rapprochement with
countries that currently have poor diplomatic and difficult economic
relations with Zimbabwe, without sacrificing our national
sovereignty. Zimbabwe shall strengthen its relations with all those
countries it currently enjoys good relations.
Let me now address a certain level of skepticism, which is bound to
be directed at Zimbabwe People First by some stakeholders. That
skepticism which says: “you were in ZANU PF for many years. Why
then should we believe that you will transform this country?” My
simple answer is that Zimbabwe People First is a new entity, with
new values and followers from every political party in Zimbabwe,
including those who had never joined any political party before, from
every province and ethnicity. We are the People and what brings us
together, all of us, is our desire to transform and to BUILD a better
Zimbabwe.
9. We are not a one- simple woman party. What we are, is a
party with a one People Center of Power.
I must also speak for myself. I have known only one political party
since I joined the liberation struggle. I am now outside that party. I am
neither an assassin nor a witch. This is now there for all to see. I have
never been a pretender that is why you never heard me encourage or
promote hate speech. If there is any crime that I am guilty of, it is the
belief in the periodic constitutional and democratic renewal of
leadership from within, and this is the same position I am now
promoting within Zimbabwe People First.
In the coming months, Zimbabwe People First will make preparations
for an inaugural Elective People’s Convention to usher in substantive
leadership to all positions within the party, from the Ward to the
National level. To this end, I will be announcing a national
management committee to spearhead this process. The emphasis and
objective being to hold a successful inaugural Elective Convention.
10. At this stage let me highlight Zimbabwe People First’s position on
coming and working together with other likeminded political
organisations. We will stand by and support all those that believe in
what we stand for: Peace, Freedom, Democracy and Prosperity for all.
To this end, we will strive to ensure a coming together and meeting of
minds on this vision. To this end, we will encourage and promote
dialogue amongst all likeminded organisations. To this end, we will
support a convergence of minds and views under an objective to attain
peace, freedom, democracy and prosperity for all. To this end, we will
seek the mandate of the People First members to take this to its
logical conclusion.
Let me conclude by calling on all Zimbabweans within and without
our borders, from all walks of life to be part of this agenda to restore
practical and meaningful hope to our people. We accept political
diversity. We embrace political tolerance and abhor political violence
and intolerance in any form whatsoever. We wish well to all the
people of Zimbabwe as we embark on this huge challenge of
transforming our country to embrace and adopt all the above. We urge
all our War Veterans, the Police, the Army, the Air Force, and
Intelligence services to defend the Constitution of Zimbabwe. So
people of Zimbabwe let us bring the transformation that brings the
hope that everyone is looking for.
11. Zimbabwe People First is carrying the desire for transformation and
hope for all Zimbabweans.
On behalf of People First, I want to appeal to all Zimbabweans to
rally behind this call to BUILD our country in peace, whilst some
revolutionaries are busy pulling Zimbabwe down.
12. Thank you and God bless you all.
Dr. Joice Teurai Ropa Mujuru
President, Zimbabwe People First