Centre News Hub
HARARE —The National Progressive Democrats (NPD) held its inaugural press conference since its launch and unveiled a bold agenda, insisting the party represents a fresh political force independent of any historical party lineage in Zimbabwe.
In a lengthy address, party president Togara Fambi, a former senior Police Officer in Masvingo formed the NPD as a product of a nationwide “general consensus” that Zimbabwe’s current system is corrupt, oppressive, and failing to deliver promised change.
“The NPD stems from public demand for leadership that prioritizes the people over elites, the nation’s economy has deteriorated under the current ruling party” said Fambi.
He highlighted poverty, rising unemployment, and the collapse of social welfare service as urgent reasons for swift political renewal.
The party positions itself as a relay in a long struggle for democracy, with a commitment to lead Zimbabwe towards what he described as a “New Zimbabwe” that serves all citizens.
Key themes outlined by the NPD include a promise to replace the current leadership with a government that is accountable, transparent, and protective of human rights and civil liberties.
NPD made a critique of the country’s economic direction, citing reports suggesting a large portion of the population lives below the poverty datum line and castigated inconsistent currency policies and deindustrialization.
A call to defend democratic space against what the party alleges are tactics of intimidation, political repression, and electoral manipulation was made by the new kid on the block.
NPD made emphasis on youth empowerment, local industry support, and an education system that prepares Zimbabweans to compete regionally and continentally.
NPD lambasted the predatory use of resources by foreign investors, warning against continued environmental and economic exploitation mainly by Chinese nationals.
The party added that it is not seeking to rewrite history by erasing past movements but to build on those efforts with a practical plan for governance.
It envisions a constitutional and political environment where elections in 2028 and any interim by-elections are conducted freely, without intimidation or manipulation, and where the people’s choices determine Zimbabwe’s path forward.
Fambi urged citizens across towns, villages, and cities to join the NPD, arguing that organized united action by the people can counter what he called decades of autocratic rule.
He emphasized that the road to victory in 2028 is about more than voting; it is about claiming a promised future rooted in justice and dignity.
Fambi also called for reforms to the security sector to ensure dissenting voices are not suppressed and to promote a democratic space where civil servants and the broader public are treated with respect and fairness.
“Among the party’s concrete goals are a thriving, innovation-driven economy; an independent judiciary with true separation of powers; an industrializing education system; universal healthcare access; safeguarding the right to shelter; and an empowered citizenry free to express, organize, and vote without fear” he said.
The NPD frames its agenda as a political project that begins today I October, insisting that the time for waiting has ended and the time for building has come.
Critics and opponents said the new party positions itself for the 2028 elections and beyond, presenting itself as a new option in Zimbabwe’s evolving political landscape.
