Woman President for Zimbabwe as activist reveals plans on political party formation

Long time Zimbabwe banned protest singer cum activist Viomak has chosen to put her lyrics and activism into political action after deciding to try politics as President of Zimbabwe Development Leaders (ZIDELE /ZDL) Party .With some five years experience as protest singer and activist Viomak confirmed that plans are underway to form a political party that will see her concentrate on making ZIDELE a part of the solution to the problems that are destroying Zimbabwe.

According to the party‘s website which is under construction the “party whose goals are based on TRUTH principles  ushers a new era of politics and energises Zimbabweans to be at the forefront of creating a Tolerant, Responsible ,Understanding, Transparent and Honest leadership.”

Still in its infancy stage, Zimbabwe Development Leaders is “founded on basic principles that leadership in the home, school, college, at work, at state house, parliament in church and indeed everywhere should be grounded in the people and not individuals. Starting in every home the role of family will be supported to build good leadership.”

As Viomak is planning and working on registering the party and putting all other basic issues in place, she confirmed that if everything goes according to plan she is very much prepared to embark on this dangerous political career in Zimbabwe.

“It is very necessary that I give politics a chance and run for presidency. Many problems in Zimbabwe remain unresolved because of bad and selfish leaders who get into politics to make themselves rich instead of making citizens rich. Our political party will therefore do all it can  to give the power to decide to the people of Zimbabwe ”, Said Viomak.

The journey from being a banned protest singer and activist to president of a political party will obviously be a huge and risky task for Viomak considering that she is a banned singer who is also targeted for producing music that is against Zimbabwe‘s repressive law POSA (Public Security Order Act). According to POSA, it is a criminal offence to sing protest songs that despise President Mugabe’s leadership.

However ,in addition to protesting against bad governance ,her music tells a long story of how she wants Zimbabwe to be governed and with that in mind ,her journey into politics will be a dream come true as she will have to make sure  that what she despised in her songs she will not do and what she asked for in her songs she will do. A striking example that immediately comes to mind is a campaign that she spearheaded since 2009 in which VOTO (Voices Of The Oppressed ) and herself campaigned requesting that MDC –GNU leaders declare their personal assets to combat corruption. She later produced a song ‘Chinja Maitiro‘ to help in the campaign.

A voice of the voiceless, the activist who comes from Mutare, Zimbabwe has a long history of despising ZANUPF and Mugabe’s bad governance using music as a tool for socio-political change .In December 2008 she released a controversial music album ‘Zimbabwe Circus’ in which she despised both ZANUPF and MDC leadership and compared the political crisis in the country to a circus in a song ‘6 and 9’ .At that time she mentioned that, “Mugabe is a bad person and bad leader. Tsvangirai is a good person but is not a good leader”.

With 6 albums and one single song under her belt, amounting to 49 protest songs the activist explained that the party motto is,

“A Legacy of Good Leadership and TRUTH (Tolerance –Responsibility-Understanding -Trust –Honesty).

Below are some of the foundation TRUTH principles that will make Viomak’s political party different from any other known political party formed in Zimbabwe.

Freedom of speech and restoration of human rights and dignity will be a new culture. Laws that hinder on democracy will be a thing of the past.

Human rights will be respected according to Zimbabwean cultural values

All members of Parliament will reside in their constituencies.

The most vulnerable ,women,chidren and destitutes and those in situations of extreme poverty will be assigned specific Ministries.

The moral fibre of Zimbabwe as a loving nation will be rejuvenated and the role of church and positive cultural practices be upheld.

Appropriate legislation will be put in place to deal with issues like prostitution, in line with upholding the moral fibre and good culture of Zimbabwe.

Education that is in total collapse needs to be rehabilitated urgently and its dignity that churned millions scattered in the world restored.

All ZIDELE leaders’ children will learn in Zimbabwe and any leader whose child is learning out of the country will have to relocate back to Zimbabwe.

A healthy nation physically,mentally and spiritually will ensure all health professionals are given space and enabling environment to perform their best

Women will be given valuable opportunities to empower themselves and uphold the good aspects of the Zimbabwean culture.

The suffering and poor are going to be given special consideration.

Zimbabwe citizens will decide how much the President, ministers and ZIDELE leaders should earn, approve and decide on leaders’ benefits.

The president and all ZIDELE party leaders will declare personal assets to an independent body chosen by the people before taking up office.

No luxury cars eg Mercedes Benz .Citizens will decide on the type of cars leaders should use.

Corruption will not be tolerated .Any ZIDELE leader accused of corruption will be suspended and is guilty until proven innocent.

The president will recommend excessive penalties for ZIDELE leaders and all citizens guilty of corruption.

ZIDELE will put in place a mechanism that will give voters the power to withdraw their votes if the President and his government fail to keep their promises.

The justice delivery system, the police and the army will be independent institutions guided by TRUTH principles among others.

Zimbabwe will not be at war with anyone and so national, regional and international networking, cooperation and any peace building programs will be key to our founding goals.

Truth and justice programs will be instilled in appropriate institutions with psychological counseling and any such programs fully supported from community to national level.

The president will recommend life in prison or castration for child abusers depending on the gravity of the cases.

State house will be a go area for all Zimbabweans.

The President will be a regulator and overseer who will do what the majority of Zimbabweans want and not want she wants.

Once a month for the 12 months the president should visit one province for a meet the people tour and the ministers should meet the people once every three months and bring written feedback.

Viomak started her activism as protest singer and human rights activist in 2005. She continues to be an activist whose work includes campaigning for freedom of expression .In April 2008 she was instrumental in setting up Voices Of The Oppressed (VOTO) Internet radio to promote and offer airplay to banned Zimbabwe protest artists. In January 2007 Viomak got involved in freedom of expression issues and subsequently set up Zimbabwe Institute For Free Expression (ZIFFE) an institute that aims at educating Zimbabweans on their right to freedom of expression. In 2009, the activist came up with an idea of promoting Zimbabwe protest artists and set up Zimbabwe Protest Movement (ZIPROMO) ,to promote Zimbabwe protest artists’ work on the internet.

When she set up viomak charity music in 2005, her objectives included singing against bad governance and donating 50% of music profits to the needy. She has since donated to various organisations and individuals in need, making her a unique musician and activist in Zimbabwe who sings for charity causes.

More information about ZIDELE political party will be available on the website www.zimbabwedevelopmentleaders.org  as time goes on.