Nkosentsha Khumalo
In a strategic move to distance themselves from former leader Mqondisi Moyo and to prevent future party seizures, the newly-elected MRP leadership has hinted at a complete rebranding of the party.
MRP National Chairperson Nhlahla Mahaja has indicated that the party is considering a complete rebranding to distance itself from former leader Mqondisi Moyo and avoid potential future party seizures.
In light of recent events involving the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party, the MRP took notes and further is taking steps to safeguard against such occurrences.
The MRP’s heightened awareness of the possibility of seizure stems from a recent incident involving the CCC party when a man named Sengezo Tshabangu, who identified himself as a member of the CCC, emerged after the 2023 elections and began recalling CCC members from their elected positions.
The MRP is seeking to avoid a similar situation by rebranding and distancing itself from Mqondisi Moyo and his tribalist leanings.
Not only does the MRP hope to prevent future party seizures, but they are also looking to rid themselves of the association with Mqondisi Moyo’s divisive rhetoric.
Moyo’s tribalist views and rhetoric have given rise to an atmosphere of mistrust between the Ndebele and Shona communities, leading to increased tension and hostilities.
Moyo, during his leadership of the MRP, propagated the notion that Shona people must be held accountable for the Gukurahundi massacres.
This divisive rhetoric has created a culture of fear and mistrust between Ndebeles and Shonas.
The newly elected MRP leadership is seeking to undo the damage caused by Moyo’s words and actions, calling for unity across all tribes and a commitment to healing the wounds of the past.
A day before the MRP’s Congress drew to a close, Nhlahla Ncube Mahaja, the party’s newly-elected National Chair, dropped a bombshell that the new leadership is in a bid to propose for the change of its party name.
As revealed by Mahaja, MRP is gearing up for a major overhaul.
In a bold move to distance the party from its previous tribalist stances, the MRP aims to open its doors to the Shona community, welcoming them into leadership roles and striving for a proportional representation based on population.
The party is also aiming to engage with President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to ensure that its voice is heard in matters related to revenue sharing and political participation.
Mahaja said they aim to
distance the MRP from previous tribalist rhetoric and work toward a more inclusive and democratic approach that welcomes all tribes.
“We want a clear separation of identity between ourselves and Mqondisi Moyo. So, the only way we can successfully do that is to have a new identity separate from him because we have seen what Tshabangu has done to CCC. That way, we will work hard and someone will come under the guise of a secretary general and divide and take what we have built.
“But, if we have a clear separation then we can work with that. So we are going to announce this that we are aiming for a name change, identity change. That is what we are going to be doing.
“It is a proposal. People might take it or not take it. But I believe that leadership is for the few. People are led. We tell them what to do. If you support Highlanders for Proposal and they say our uniform is black and white, you can’t come and say I support you but I want to wear yellow. You will wear what we have told you to wear. So I believe that as leadership that is going to be elected, if we adopt it, people will follow it.”
Mahaja asserted that those who refuse to adopt to the current changes are free to join any other parties.
“Very welcome. I am sure Zanu Pf is also recruiting. People are very free to go. People see us recruiting, they are very free to join us. So we are building a new party,” said Majaha.
“We want a rebirth. Everything will be new. We are running away from the tribal rhetoric of Mqondisi Moyo. Why are we downgrading other tribes?
“Why are we insulting other tribes? We need them, they need us. What kind of a nation are we building that is one tribe? A mono-tribal system, where have you ever seen that? We are not a kingdom, a democracy. We are running away from this thing of who takes care of other tribes.”
Mahaja said the MRP will open it’s doors to all tribes under his leadership.
“And in our leadership, we invite the Shona people to come. I want them to be a part of us. In fact, in our overall structure, I want them to constitute a fair amount proportion to the population.
“Yes, I want that. And it won’t be overnight. It will be four years to do it. I will be able, to sell out, or be labeled distant. But can anyone honestly stand there and say they do not have a relative, distant or near, who is not of Shona tribe? It is no longer possible.
“Under my leadership, the MRP is going to take a new direction. We are going to invite the Shona brothers and sisters. We want them to form the new MRP, which is not going to be called, to talk as a republic party. But there is a very strong similarity to where we are coming from. It is just a separation of identity.”
Majaha had said that if elected, which he was, that is his mandate for four years.
He said the MRP’s first vote of call will be President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to inform him that MRP is not a troublemakers or terrorists party.
“We want a portion, proportionate with our contribution to the fiscus. What happens to our funds from Zinara? What happens to them? Why should City Council raise revenue, submit it to central government, and then apply for it, and then be told that we are not capable?
“Why? It doesn’t make sense. So my leadership is going to be engagement. We are starting off with status, not engaging.”
Mahaja articulated a new agenda for the party focusing on engagement rather than status.
He demanded that the party be included in the Gukurahundi hearings, as the chiefs are not qualified to sit on the panel due to their victim-perpetrator duality.
Instead, the MRP proposed that political parties, which are multi-tribal, should be the primary participants in the hearings
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“Currently Mnangagwa is conducting a round of Gukurahundi hearings.
“We are not part of them. Why? We want to be part of them. The new MRP wants to participate. The chiefs are not even qualified to sit on that panel.
“They are not qualified for one simple reason. They are victims. How can you prove the victim, perpetrator, judge, arbiter, jury? They are not qualified.
“Chief Mtshane, what happened to your own father? What happened to your brother?, yourself?. Because today you’ve been given a twin camera, a laptop, an iPhone you suddenly forget that you are a victim. You are a victim. And the only people that can participate are political parties, not tribal leaders.”
Mahaja further stated that the MRP would write directly to President Emmerson Mnangagwa to request participation in the hearings held in their territory.
The party’s stance is based on the principle that all residents of the region, regardless of their background, are part of the greater Mthwakazi community.
Mahaja emphasized that this approach would help build a new nation, breaking away from the divisive tribalist rhetoric of the past.
He said the MRP is now a new party.
“This is a new party. We are still in the same direction, but we are not going to be insulting tribes. We want them. They also want us.”
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“As long as you live in our territory, regardless of your background, you are a Mthwakazi.”
“People were born here. They got married here. They have children here. They own land here. What are we saying about them? Let’s build together. Let’s build a new nation.”
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