By A Correspondent- The UANC President Rev Dr Gwinyai Muzorewa has said his party will only work with other progressive parties besides “unprincipled” Zanu PF accusing POLAD actors of prioritising personal aggrandisement at the expense of the majority of Zimbabweans.
In a one on one interview with ZimEye, Rev Dr Muzorewa revealed the reason why he was not in POLAD adding that he could never sit in the same room with the ruling party to give them advice because of the way that the party has run down the country.
He said:
“The reason why we are not in POLAD is because I believe that I cannot sit in the same room with the ruling party to give them advice. No.
They have the freedom to rule the country the way they want but that is not the only way that is good for Zimbabweans, we have seen that.
So the UANC led by Muzorewa is different from any other parties. It is different because we are clear that we need a country that is run on principles, a country run on moral basis, one that is run in freedom because people struggled, people fought, others died for this country.
We cannot let people starve when we are there. It’s not going to happen. To tell you the truth, the UANC that is led by Muzorewa is willing to work with all parties except those who are working with Mr Mnangagwa.”
We publish below excepts of the interview where GM is abbreviation for President Rev Dr Gwinyai Muzorewa
Sofia: Who is Rev Dr Gwinyai Muzorewa?
GM: Gwinyai Muzorewa is a native of Zimbabwe born and raised there. I am also the president of the UANC and I am aspiring to presidency in 2023.
Sofia: What does UANC stand for what are you bringing to table for Zimbabweans in terms of politics?
GM: The UANC means the African National Council. We have been in existence for a long time. The UANC is a people’s party that believes in non- violence, that believes in justice for all and so for the longest time we have been on the fringes just giving room for those who are more vocal. But now the situation is so bad. The situation is so bad that we cannot afford to sit. We have to come in and we have come in.
In 2018 we participated in the harmonised elections and then this time we are geared to not only to participate but participate and win. The UANC stands for a good economy, a good life for all Zimbabweans.
We will participate in that kind of governance. As long as one has skills and they are professional and are willing to serve the people, they are good candidates for our civil service.
The UANC is different from the ruling parties that employ people in government on the basis of their party affiliation. The first thing for me, the first thing is that I am a Zimbabwean who happens to belong to this tribe, belong to this family.
First and foremost I am a Zimbabwean and that spirit is the spirit that will unite Zimbabwe in a meaningful way. Remember when we went out to fight, we went out to fight as a people, we were united. We came back here hence we should not be divided over political ideologies.
We should be united for the progress of the nation so that’s what the UANC stands for. That’s how our party differs from other parties that just want to go in there for personal aggrandisement. We are not after that we are after the overall national development.
Sofia: You mentioned that come 2023 you will win the elections. Are you happy with the current electoral environment, the political situation?
GM: Without serious reforms, these elections will always be the same old joke. We have to have serious reforms, electoral reforms, political reforms because we are looking for justice here. We want to be fair here.
We want to be fair with the people of Zimbabwe because people often wonder, so many have voted for a particular individual and the results don’t show that. And you wonder what has happened. Well we know what has happened. The votes are manipulated. So we are hoping that we have serious electoral reforms before 2023.
If that doesn’t happen, there can be some problems. We cannot have a repeat of the same game over and over. They say you can fool people some of the time but not all the time. This time in 2023 most Zimbabweans that I talk to, that I share with have said enough is enough. They have said we are going to do it differently.
They are saying, I need my freedom in my ballot box, I need my freedom in my participation in politics, I need my freedom in my home and I need my freedom in my country. That is what people are demanding. Unemployment is bad because so many policies needs to be put in place. Without these things, the people are just fed up.
Sofia: What is your party’s position on corruption?
GM: We have a plan to end corruption. Corruption in Zimbabwe started from top officials. Also, the RBZ seems to be the beehive for large scale scandals for our nation. The UANC will end corruption by removing, replacing and restructuring most government agencies including public service, commissions appointed by government.
An alternative government will eliminate cartels and a patronage based economy to replace with traditional free market. By computerising the system, nationwide auditor general’s tasks will be more manageable as computerisation ensures checks and balances that are calculated to suffocate corruption channels and loopholes.
I think in Zimbabwe, people chose to be corrupt because the rule of law itself has been corrupted, because of state capture. The UANC leadership will open alternative channels for creating wealth. Not wealth for a few elites but for all the people. For the UANC leadership, integrity, transparency and accountability is the mantra.
We believe an alternative government brings in a new dispensation led by a vetted cabinet and servant leadership. Because the judicial system is corrupt currently, the Zimbabwe anti corruption commission is only a paper tiger.
Corruption thrives in state capture where no one is ever held accountable. To end corruption, every Zimbabwean ought to serve as an anti corruption commissioner. This only happens when the rule of law is in effect.
The UNAC will enforce the constitutional provision for separation of the three branches of government, the executive, judiciary and the legislature. The military and the police which are apolitical will resume their traditional role for a peaceful and inclusive government. Time will come when the defence forces will defend the nation and not protect poverty lawlessness, unemployment and corruption.
Over 70 percent of Zimbabweans live in poverty in a rich country due to rampant corruption yet poverty is not the cause for corruption. Rather corruption causes poverty. The UANC will reverse this trajectory. The year 2023 will mark the beginning of measurable reduction to poverty in Zimbabwe.
Sofia: You mention that you envision a time in Zimbabwe when there will be separation of powers in Zimbabwe. Is that possible given the current trajectory?
GM: Yes because the Constitution that we have right now makes that provision. All that is missing is implementation of what the constitution provides. So that is one of the problems. We have a good document to guide us but those who are supposed to uphold it don’t uphold it.
So we will come in and do what we need to do. As government, the Constitution is our document, it is our guiding principle that we go by because that is where the nation has put all its thoughts, all its wisdom together to say: by this document we will abide. It will happen come 2023. We are coming in to make right what is not right.
Sofia: Could you share your thoughts on the importance of a coalition of opposition political parties against Zanu PF?
GM: Those remarks are interesting. I will respond to it in a sort of combination. The UANC believes in unity, national unity. The UANC belongs to the people. In fact the UANC is the first political party in Zimbabwe. It is not just a little party. It is the oldest party along with Zanu Pf and Zapu.
MDC came in in 1999 and then other parties have come in. I am sorry the UANC is not one of tuma party that’s why colloquially it is called dzakutsaku or Huruyadzo. It is named that because it is one of the oldest parties in the country. Now anyone who thinks that the UANC led by this man Muzorewa is really like Zanu Pf , that person needs more information.
The reason we are not in POLAD is because, i believe that I could not sit in the same room with the ruling party to give them advice. No. They have the freedom to rule the country the way they want but that is not the only way that is good for Zimbabweans. We have seen that. So the UANC led by Muzorewa is different from any other parties.
It is different because we are clear that we need a country that is run on principles run on moral basis that is run in freedom because people struggled, people fought others, died for this country. We cannot let people starve when we are there. It’s not going to happen. To tell you the truth, the UANC that is led by Muzorewa is willing to work with all parties except those who are working with Mr Mnangagwa..
Watch the video loading below for a full text of the interview …..