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Bulawayo Bureau
Expelled former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru’s putschist cabal is suspected to be canvassing for grassroots support through non-governmental organisations that are funding projects under the banner of the People First project.

One of the local NGOs which was registered under the name Vukuzenzele has raised suspicions on its moves to help people in different districts of the country while claiming that the help was coming from People First.

Some of Vukuzenzele’s leaders have been linked to fired former Government minister Mr Nicholas Goche, who was accused of plotting against President Mugabe.

Former Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa and former Zanu-PF spokesperson Mr Rugare Gumbo, who were both expelled from the party, are the kingpins behind the People First political project.

A meeting widely publicised as organised by People First had been planned for Victoria Falls on Saturday, but was postponed at the 11th hour.

The organisation’s regional co-ordinator in charge of the Southern region, Mr Makhosini Mkandla, said the organisation was registered as Vukuzenzele last year, but “the people” had branded it “People First”.

He vehemently denied that the NGO was involved in political activities.

“The name is just street language coming from the people and it’s not on our papers,” said Mr Mkandla. “It is just like the famous slogan ‘ongafuniyo kayekele’ associated with Highlanders Football Club although it’s not captured as an official name in their constitution and us we just take it as a people’s slogan. Our vision is to put people first and help them.”

Mr Mkandla said the event, which would have seen people forming clubs and submitting project proposals, was called off following the death of Mr Goche’s son.

It was not immediately possible to verify Mkandla’s claims that Goche had lost a son.

Sources confirmed that Mr Goche’s son died in South Africa on Thursday.

The meeting had been set for Chinotimba Stadium and was postponed to a later date.

“We were coming to Victoria Falls to meet residents and introduce projects to them,” said Mr Mkandla. “The meeting was cancelled because some of our leaders were bereaved. We were told that Goche (Nicholas)’s son died and our national coordinator (Robson Mhizha) couldn’t come because he is related to the family.”

Asked why the alleged Goche’s loss could stop the meeting, Mkandla said the meeting could not have proceeded in Mhizha’s absence.

“This is not about any political party, but about people which is why it’s happening when there are no coming elections. Our aim is to start projects for people and they have been told to make proposals which the donor would look at and see if they can be funded,” added Mkandla.

“People First is just a street name from people and I wonder whether there is such a political organisation registered in that name. As an organisation, all we advocate for is putting people first in our projects and we are far from Mujuru and Goche. They are not part of our organisation and none of them is in our projects.”

He could couldn’t be drawn into revealing names of the donors who he said were based in South Africa and Nigeria.

Mkandla said a number or projects were already in place in the Midlands in Gokwe, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Manicaland where some beneficiaries were already involved in cotton buying and reselling, cattle rearing and others.

For Matabeleland North they want to start chicken rearing, piggery and fish projects. On Saturday some residents of Victoria Falls started trickling to the venue as early as 9AM in anticipation of the meeting. Efforts to speak to some of the residents by The Chronicle were fruitless as none of them appeared willing to give details after being briefed on the phone.