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Clarkson Mambo
HARARE — There is man who has suddenly become the talk of the town for being a dark horse in the race to State House during the forthcoming presidential poll. His name is Kisinoti Mukwazhe, whose political history remains shadowy, save that he once served as a Zanu PF member in Masvingo.
Someone was heard describing him as “a dreamer, and a big one for that’.
Mukwazhe has thrown his hat into the ring together with three others namely Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube and Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa whose participation the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has confirmed to challenge President Robert Mugabe.
On July 31, all eyes will be on Zimbabwe, as the country holds a much anticipated general election.
A lot still however, hangs in the balance with a pending Constitutional Court ruling on the contested election date and lack of funds to bankroll the poll.
The crucial election is expected to end the second coalition government in the history of the country after the short lived Ian Smith-Muzorewa in 1979.
But as debate around the elections dominates current affairs, Mukwazhe, who is the leader of the little known Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP), has also got people talking.
Some have already labelled him a “spoiler, time waster, vote splitter”.
Others argue the man is after cheap publicity. But Mukwazhe reckons people are underestimating him. He believes he will spring a surprise.
“I am a very serious challenger and mark my words, the youngsters out there who want to see things moving economically are going to rally behind the Zimbabwe Development Party,” he says.
Mukwazhe, whose party was launched on the eve of the 2008 elections, believes his five year old party has got what it takes to ensure they land the top job.
“I won’t sleep well until the war is fought and won. The war is there, we are fighting for the voiceless and the voiceless must help us. Their weapon is the vote,” he said.
He however, bemoans the fact that his party, unlike their competitors, did not have the financial muscle to go on a full campaign ahead of the polls.
“I am in the battle field with those who are backed by their friends from outside Zimbabwe and those getting support from the fiscus but we will be using brains as our resources to push them down and definitely you will see big things happening,” he contends.
Mukwazhe is among party leaders who recently petitioned President Mugabe for the Government to allocate them $2 million to participate in the polls.
The parties, which included the little known Good People’s Movement, Rebuild Party of Zimbabwe, African National Party and the Zimbabwe Organised Open Political Party, took their petition to the Constitutional Court which dismissed it.
“It’s very unfortunate that the Zimbabwe Development Party has no money from the fiscus and also from friends outside because of the legislation in place. I want to tell you, we are going to make some surprises,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Political Parties Finance Act (PPFA) provides funding to parties with a minimum of five percent representation in Parliament.
But Mukwazhe says this will not deter him.
He says what separated his party from the others was its drive to ensure Zimbabweans lived in peace and harmony.
“ZDP’s main thrust is to see its people living in harmony and peace. Living in harmony means we must be economically prosperous and our people will be able to enjoy the benefits of their natural resources,” he said.
Mukwazhe said the ZDP represented the voiceless and “will fight to produce the best results so that people will see economic development taking place in Zimbabwe through ZDP’s initiatives.”
He said he was determined to succeed as he goes head to head with President Mugabe, PM Tsvangirai who are tipped to be front runners in the plebiscite.
In the 2008 elections, Mukwazhe did not participate in the presidential election although his party fielded a few candidates who all did not make it to Parliament. — New Ziana
Online Reporter