‘People-driven’ alternative Rise Mzansi launched

 

Rise Mzansi, which defines itself as a “people-driven alternative”, held its official launch in Braamfontein on Monday.

 

The party will be led by Songezo Zibi, who is an author and former editor of two of South Africa’s big publications, Business Day and the Financial Mail.

 

Speaking at the launch at Constitution Hill, Zibi said the party’s goal is to build the country based on its core principles. 

 

“Our goal is to build a country based on the principles of justice, freedom, equality, solidarity and integrity. These are not just Rise Mzansi’s values but the values that must enter to revive the South African dream.” 

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“Rise Mzansi comes at a time where South African voters are looking for alternative political homes as they have grown deeply disgruntled with the current political parties and systems.”

 

Zibi believes the mess the country finds itself in is not due to a lack of political parties but rather that society has become broken. 

Zibi described the country’s political system as “broken”. 

 

 

“But the dream of this South Africa we have lost as politics has come to civilise corruption, arrogance of power and embarrassing eagerness to conclude political deals. South Africa is the only country in the whole world where it may be possible for one person to be a mayor of two places in one term. Come on, come on. What are we gonna do next, ask (former US president Barack) Obama to be our president next?” 

 

Rise Mzansi will register with the Independent Electoral Commission and will contest elections nationally.