Mugabe’s ex allies form opposition party

Joice Mujuru a powerful former ally of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe alongside other former friends of Africa’s longest serving leader have joined forces to challenge the incumbents 35-year rule by forming a opposition party.

Speaking after the party was formed Ms Mujuru who was Mr Mugabe’s second-in-command until the ruling Zanu-PF party sacked her in 2014 after accusing her of plotting to oust and kill him said the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party had been formed because “Zimbabwe is a broken country”.

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“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.

Her supporters ululated as she entered the hall to announce ZPF’s launch, reports the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko from the scene.

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