Tendai Matunhu
Former outspoken MDC T spokesperson, Linda Masarira over the weekend launched her party, Labour Economic and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD).
During the launch, Masarira said her party would be the largest labour party in Zimbabwe. She said LEAD would be self-funding as foreign donors come with strings attached.
Masarira highlighted that opposition politics is about constructive criticism not divisive politics. This is in apparent reference to the MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa whose politics has been confrontational. Chamisa always ride on ‘President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa must go’ rhetoric without offering alternative solution.
President Mnangagwa has been calling for a national dialogue which the MDC snubbed.
Masarira said she would enter into peaceful engagement and she would be very tolerant, a virtue that she said was lacking in the existing opposition parties.
The same outlined her party’s principles which are, gender sensitivity, youth participation, worker emancipation, pan-Africanism and democracy.
The LEAD leader attacked MDC for betraying workers by deviating from being a labour party to one led by corrupt lawyers.
MDC is full of lawyers, among them Chamisa himself, MDC Vice Presidents Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, Jacob Mafume, Job Sikhala and Douglas Mwonzora.
LEAD Secretary General Sydney Muyambi likened Masarira to the spirit medium Mbuya Nehanda. He said the country’s enemy was not ZANU PF, but capitalists who control fuel and foreign currency through cartels.
LEAD came up with their slogan, “Together we can, wanhu vese, abantu sonke, bantu toonsei.”
Members of the national management committee were hand-picked by Masarira as no election was conducted. National leadership consists of Linda Masarira as President, Patrick Ndhlovu as Vice President, Caro Rwafa as Chairperson and Morgan Ndhlovu as Vice Chairperson.
Also in the leadership are: Sydney Muyambi as Secretary General, Laura Mutasa as Vice Secretary General, Adamson BANDA as Treasurer General, Kevin Muzhungu, Organising Secretary, Tapiwa Matava Organising Secretary, Musa Kapena Secretary for Information and Publicity, Journalist Clayton Masekesa Vice Secretary for Information and Publicity, Edmore Musekiwa Secretary for Elections, Gracious Shamhuyarira Vice Secretary for Elections, Elia Zvimba Secretary for Legal Affairs, P Mashava Vice Secretary for Legal Affairs.
A Matongo was also appointed Secretary for Research and Policy Formulation, Chenai Jani Women LEAD Chairwoman, Florence Mudenda women Vice LEAD Chairwoman and Chiedza Yakobe Young LEAD Chairperson.
Political analysts said that Masarira had a track record of embezzling donor funds. Previously, Masarira admitted to diverting donor funds meant for peace campaigns and other community programs meant to empower citizens into personal use or to fund opposition party activities. The formation of LEAD could be a platform to gobble donor funds
