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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe's Joice Mujuru forms ZPF to oppose Mugabe | Zimbabwe's Joice Mujuru forms ZPF to oppose Mugabe |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A powerful former ally of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has launched a party to challenge his 35-year rule. | A powerful former ally of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has launched a party to challenge his 35-year rule. |
| Joice Mujuru said the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party had been formed because "Zimbabwe is a broken country". | Joice Mujuru said the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party had been formed because "Zimbabwe is a broken country". |
| Ms Mujuru was Mr Mugabe's second-in-command until he sacked her in 2014 after accusing her of plotting to oust and kill him. | |
| "I'm neither a witch nor an assassin," Ms Mujuru said, at the party's launch in the capital, Harare. | "I'm neither a witch nor an assassin," Ms Mujuru said, at the party's launch in the capital, Harare. |
| She is the most senior former Zanu-PF leader to form an opposition party, and is tipped to be its presidential candidate in the 2018 election. | She is the most senior former Zanu-PF leader to form an opposition party, and is tipped to be its presidential candidate in the 2018 election. |
| Her supporters ululated as she entered the hall to announce ZPF's launch, reports the BBC's Nomsa Maseko from the scene. | Her supporters ululated as she entered the hall to announce ZPF's launch, reports the BBC's Nomsa Maseko from the scene. |
| Joice Mujuru - key facts: | |
| Ms Mujuru, 60, was flanked by other former Zanu-PF heavyweights, including Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo. | Ms Mujuru, 60, was flanked by other former Zanu-PF heavyweights, including Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo. |
| She hailed the formation of ZPF as historic, and said it would fight the "scourge of corruption" in Zimbabwe. | She hailed the formation of ZPF as historic, and said it would fight the "scourge of corruption" in Zimbabwe. |
| "Some revolutionaries are busy pulling Zimbabwe down," Ms Mujuru said. | "Some revolutionaries are busy pulling Zimbabwe down," Ms Mujuru said. |
| Our correspondent says she was a Zanu-PF member for more than 30 years, and will it find difficult to convince voters that she represents a new era. | |
| But, encouragingly for Ms Mujuru, her supporters turned up at the launch to give their backing, she adds. | |
| Zanu-PF has nominated Mr Mugabe, who turned 92 last month, for re-election in 2018. | Zanu-PF has nominated Mr Mugabe, who turned 92 last month, for re-election in 2018. |
| However, because of his advancing age, a battle to succeed him is raging in Zanu-PF between Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace, and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was appointed to the post following Ms Mujuru's expulsion, correspondents say. | However, because of his advancing age, a battle to succeed him is raging in Zanu-PF between Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace, and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was appointed to the post following Ms Mujuru's expulsion, correspondents say. |
| Mrs Mugabe led the campaign to oust Ms Mujuru, who was seen to harbour ambitions to succeed Mr Mugabe as Zanu-PF leader and president. | Mrs Mugabe led the campaign to oust Ms Mujuru, who was seen to harbour ambitions to succeed Mr Mugabe as Zanu-PF leader and president. |