NCA's Lovemore Madhuku to Step Down, Form Political Party
NCA is likely to lure MDC99 leader Job Sikhala to join its ranks and so-called MDC rebels who include disgruntled former MDC legislators and councilors
WASHINGTON DC — National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairman Lovemore Madhuku, who is widely expected to announce the date for the launch of a new political party at his organization’s congress on Saturday, has not ruled out working with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation led by former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in future. Madhuku has been a close ally of Tsvangirai until they fell out over the writing of a new constitution. The congress would also involve the election of the NCA’s leadership from the national task-force as well as provincial and constituency structures. The NCA says it had to put its congress on hold for two years due to the political dynamics in the country which had affected their programming. But critics blame the leadership of the organization for not wanting to relinquish power. Insiders say the NCA is likely to lure MDC99 leader Job Sikhala to join its ranks. The so-called MDC rebels who include disgruntled former legislators and councilors are also being targeted. The new party is also looking at recruiting from the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. But efforts to recruit Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Raymond Majongwe and law lecturer Munyaradzi Gwisai seem to have failed. Majongwe told VOA Studio 7 that he will remain a trade unionist for now and will not be joining the new party. Gwisai and Sikhala were however not reachable on their mobile phones. Madhuku said failure by the government to fix a date for the constitutional referendum delayed their congress. Political analyst and director of Zimbabwe Democracy Institute, Pedzisayi Ruhanya, said there is nothing wrong about having more political parties in Zimbabwe.