Zimbabwean former vice president Joice Mujuru announced Wednesday that she is forming a new party to challenge President Robert Mugabe's all-powerful ZANU-PF, in a move that could shake up the country's politics.
Mugabe, who turns 92 on Sunday, has ruled since independence in 1980 during an era marked by vote-rigging, mass emigration, accusations of human rights abuses and economic decline.
He is expected to stand again for election in 2018, but jockeying over his succession has intensified due to his advanced age and speculation about his health.
"We are 'People First'," Mujuru told AFP by telephone, confirming the name of her new party but giving no further details.
"We don't lead the people, but people lead themselves."
Mujuru, the widow of Zimbabwe's first post-independence army general, was fired from the government and the ruling ZANU-PF party in December 2014.
Her ousting came after a campaign by Mugabe's wife Grace denigrating Mujuru and accusing her of corruption, fomenting party division and plotting to topple Mugabe.
Many of her allies and perceived sympathisers met a similar fate in a party purge.
Mujuru, 60, who was replaced as vice president by long-time Mugabe ally Emmerson Mnangagwa, denied all accusations of disloyalty.
She was a guerrilla fighter during Zimbabwe's 1970s liberation war before rising to become deputy leader in 2004.
A former ZANU-PF stalwart, she earlier served in several cabinet posts under Mugabe and was seen for many years as his favoured choice of successor.
Her husband, Solomon Mujuru, died in a mysterious house fire in 2011.
Mujuru signalled her intention to form a political party last year by releasing a manifesto that opposed Mugabe's key policies including indigenisation laws that compel foreign firms to cede majority stakes to locals.
ZANU-PF has been riven by factional fights over Mugabe's succession although party figures have sought to downplay any splits.
Mnangagwa is now viewed as the likely next president, with Grace Mugabe, 50, also a possible candidate.
The president attended an African Union summit in Ethiopia at the end of last month, giving a long speech as he stepped down from his year as AU chairman.
The event was his first major public appearance since rumours flared that he had collapsed and died in Asia during his annual holiday in January.
A Zimbabwe court last week jailed an opposition activist for nine years for possessing home-made petrol bombs in a supposed plot to attack a dairy run by Grace.
Source :AFP
GMT 15:34 2018 Friday ,14 December
Moscow ready for Putin-Trump meetingGMT 13:40 2018 Friday ,14 December
Britain and EU should prepare for second Brexit referendumGMT 11:43 2018 Friday ,14 December
Kosovo to build an army amid tensions with SerbiaGMT 11:52 2018 Thursday ,13 December
Britain's May to appeal to EU for help to salvage Brexit dealGMT 10:28 2018 Wednesday ,12 December
Huawei Executive Gets Bail In Case Rattling China TiesGMT 09:01 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
US marines missing after aircraft collision off Japan confirmed deadGMT 08:55 2018 Monday ,10 December
Top EU court to issue decision on reversal of BrexitGMT 08:37 2018 Monday ,10 December
Peruvians vote for anti-corruption reformsMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor