Viva Zimbabwe 1st Press Conference OFFICIAL SPEECH
June 30 2016
Delivered by Party Chairman
Lumumba Lumumba

IF I WAS A MUSICIAN I WOULD SING ABOUT IT all, IF I WAS painter, I would pencil a masterpiece, IF I WAS AN ACTIVIST I would get out on the street and petition, BUT IM NOT that, I am A POLITICIAN, a passion I have held since I was child, politics to me, is the most important conversation our generation needs to take over, not the divisive politics we have become so used to, not the politics that destroys but the politics that’s builds, not the politics that focuses on people who have or want power, but the politics that focuses on what needs to get done with that power, not the politics that creates problems but the politics that solves them, I am passionate about politics that’s kind and not harsh, listens before it attacks, where ideas are exchanged no matter how different, a politics that understands while you may not always be right, you deserve to be listened to, that spends time focused on the future, not just what it looks like but what role we must play in it, THAT is politics this country needs, sadly that politics does not exist, that’s why so many young people struggle to fit in to the political space, because it does not speak to our generation.
Today I am announcing the future of politics in this country. This summer a new political player will be introduced to the country, the only realistic chance we have of constructing a new path for this nation. A path whose roadways speak to the ambitions and ideas of its people.
We are faced with a generational divide between old ideas and new thought, between Rhodesian wounds and democratic messaging, between a generation that has served its purpose and a generation fighting for a chance to serve theirs. It is this disconnect and disregard of our generation that has brought us to a point of forming our own generational consensus and building a youth led political party.
I learnt early on in life that when you are passionate enough about anything it becomes political; this was true when the founding fathers of this country where tested by the clenched fist of the Rhodesian colony, their plight became political, it was true when the land was owned by a minority of Rhodesian farmers at the expense of the black majority, it became political and a generation acted, again when the political founding fathers blocked new ideas it became political and a generation of activists led by Morgan Tsvangirai acted, it is always called on a generation to act when the issues affecting it become so charged they go to the core of politics.
Today it is the state of our economy. We all have a version of a good life that we see when we close our eyes, this version ranges from being able to keep your marriage together, you are working hard but the opportunity to rise or be financially rewarded is dwarfed and looking after your family near the impossible, bringing real heart breaking chaos into many households, for some a good life is graduating from university and being able to apply for a dream job that allows you contribute your skills and talents, for most of us a good life is simply being able to look after our parents, siblings and most importantly our children. Whatever your version of a good life is, today the chances of reaching it are nutured.
Our parents were born in Rhodesia but they lived a better life than we do in current Zimbabwe, look at us, independent on paper but highly dependent in reality, respectful but abused, told we are free but when itai Dzamara was abducted, they said only if he had not acted so free, told to dream, but everyday we wake up to a nightmare reality, we are now so angry so frustrated and so passionate that the issue has become political and so our generation must act, and must act now. It is this generation I am speaking to. The youth of this country. Viva Zimbabwe is the political party we have all been waiting for, not for you to vote for but for you to use as the vehicle to unlock your potential and have a chance of realizing your dreams.
In 25 months we go into the next general election, elections are about the future and what you want it to look like. Your vote is the game changer between opposing visions/ideas and beliefs. So lets talk about the viva vision, its you. The vision is you, not the economy, nor the democracy but you, the idea that you are the most important conversation we should be having as a country, the idea that unlocking your ideas by listening to them, giving them space and supporting them is the single most important expectation you should have from your government.
WE can build our own country, but we will have change our political culture, put measures in place that ensure we can never end up in the place we are in today, and one of the most important ways of doing that is putting in place checks and balances, not everyone who is a good politician should be in government occupying public office.
I will not be contesting for any public office in the next election, but I recognize there are people who can serve this country so much better if they where given the opportunity. Viva Zimbabwe is there to create that chance, there is nothing wrong with this country, that the young people in this generation can not solve, I can not wait until its one of us leading the reengagement process with countries we long since broke relations with, how I dream for one of us to lead the reform of our schooling system, one of us to lead the transition from the old and painful way of accessing a simple birth certificate, to a new and modern way of getting it done.
My ideas are not the best, that’s why we need yours, but if your only idea of politics is crushing the ideas of others because you do not believe it can be done, I only ask that you get out of the way for those of us who believe it can be done.
Our Business community has been overtaxed and under supported for the longest time, you can preform better if government gets out of your way. Enabling structures must be in place, not because you are a special class but because you are to this economy what blood is to the body, we have to look after you if we are to stay healthy, we promise to engage with you at every step of the way, viva Zimbabwe is the answer. Lets transition to a new deal.
We have been taught a racial politics where boxes have been built for us based on the color of our skin, this generation can be the generation to get rid of racism, its ok to go to school with another race, and to do business with them, Zimbabwe is not a race, Zimbabwe is a people. viva Zimbabwe is the answer, lets transition to a new deal.
There are 3 million plus Zimbabwean who are outside this country. They are Zimbabweans before they are anything else, for too long they been left out, they cant vote they cant invest and they cant contribute to the development of their country, not anymore, this country needs not just your ideas but your exposure more than you have been led to believe, we need you! Lets transition to a new deal
To the members of the press, increasingly you have become the game changers who force attention where the old culture of politics have tried to make us turn aside. 1st of all, Thank you. Thank you for keeping the conversation of what is going on in this country in our face and protecting us every time they tried to shut us up. You deserve a better country, viva Zimbabwe is the answer.
To the War veterans like my father, who for almost 40 years has served loyally this country in the military as a civil servant. Under rewarded and now afraid of retirement because he is not sure if his pension will come at the end of the month, viva Zimbabwe is the answer. We honor and respect war veterans for their selfless service, but no one who was willing to give up their life for this country should ever have to be treated the way Zanu Pf has treated you.
To my brothers and sisters, colleagues alike, cdes and friends, youth leaders from other parties – MDC Nelson Chamisa, ZPF- Luckson Kandemiri, ZANU PF Kudzai Chipanga, thank you for the hard work you have been putting in to make sure our generation is not left out, but we lose the battle the moment we start fighting each other, we are stronger together than apart, we are not each others enemy nor are we the oppressor.
I am putting a new deal on the table, tinosvika kupi tichingo shandiswa nemashefu anogara pamba pakanaka, pako hapana gadhi, vano famba nemota dzakana, iwe hauna kana bhutsu, vanodya chkafu chinonaka, isu tichiita zvekubatanidza. Hai hai SOKUKWANILE MADHODHA.
Join viva Zimbabwe and lead me. Lead us in a direction you know better than others how to navigate, if it’s a problem of my leadership. I will make a deal with you,.. You can come and lead instead, but what you can not do is shy away from our generational responsibility. Lets transition into a new deal.
To the civil servants of this country, you are the back bone of this country, you are the most resolute people I have ever come across. You are the midwives munobatsira ana amai zuva nezuva kuzvara vana, ma headmasters, mateacher akatidzidzisa chirungu chatakuvhaira nacho tichidadida pasi rose, mapurisa akatichengetedza kubvira nekubvira , mawuto enyika, pamasana penyu miganhu yeZimbabwe yakachengetedzeka, munyika menerunyararo, you joined because you wanted to serve, ishungu dzenyu nenyika yenyu dzinokutumai.
Through thick and thin you have weathered the storm and no matter the circumstances, you wake up each morning to go to work, to help deliver more children into this country, to put more smiles on the faces of our precious boys and girls, how dare they do this to you. I want to say Thank you. Ndimi ana mai nana baba vakabata hana yenyika. You have educated us, kune tsumo inoti chirere chigokurerawo, thank you educating us, tinokumbira mukana wekukutendai nekukurerai.
Lastly the security chiefs, our fight is not against you. Zanu pf has abused you for too long, they have committed all manners of evil and come to hide behind your protection yet look at the lives of your service men and women. Zanu pf let you down, our police, CIO and military, I am offering a better relationship, one built on common purpose to create a country our children can be proud of. Zanu pf without you are normal men and women, may history remember you as the guardians of the transition and not the obstacle of it. We are not here for chaos, or a revolution, we will not always agree but will listen to your counsel, especially when we disagree. We are here for transition, hope vs fear, faith vs despair, long term economic planning vs short term gains, partnerships vs debt. The road is long and this journey will be hard, today we ask you to take this first step with us. The tide is riding. Welcome to the viva experience.