Patriotic Union of MaNdebeleland
Encyclopedia
The Patriotic Union of MaNedebeleland (PUMA) is a minor Zimbabwean political party. It was launched in Bulawayo in February, 2006 by ex-ZANU PF politician Leonard Nkala. It seeks to divide Matabeleland
and the Midlands into eight regions and devolve legislative and administrative power to those regions. It also supports a commission of inquiry into the deaths of more than 20,000 Zimbabweans
at the hands of Robert Mugabe
's government in Matabeleland in the 1980s. It supports the recruitment of local Ndebele inhabitants for State jobs in Matabeleland but denies any intention to secede from Zimbabwe
.
Its launch in March, 2006 attracted 47 people, mainly Ndebeles over the age of forty.
The party contested the Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 2008
, running seven candidates and gaining 523 votes (0.02%).
Along with three other minor opposition parties, PUMA is a member of the Zimbabwe Organisation of Opposition Political Parties.
Matabeleland
Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
and the Midlands into eight regions and devolve legislative and administrative power to those regions. It also supports a commission of inquiry into the deaths of more than 20,000 Zimbabweans
Gukurahundi
The Gukurahundi refers to the suppression by Zimbabwe's 5th Brigade in the predominantly Ndebele regions of Zimbabwe most of whom were supporters of Joshua Nkomo. A few hundred disgruntled former ZIPRA combatants waged armed banditry against the civilians in Matabeleland, and destroyed government...
at the hands of Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
's government in Matabeleland in the 1980s. It supports the recruitment of local Ndebele inhabitants for State jobs in Matabeleland but denies any intention to secede from Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
Its launch in March, 2006 attracted 47 people, mainly Ndebeles over the age of forty.
The party contested the Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 2008
Zimbabwean parliamentary election, 2008
A parliamentary election was held in Zimbabwe on March 29, 2008 to elect members to both the House of Assembly and the Senate of the Zimbabwean parliament...
, running seven candidates and gaining 523 votes (0.02%).
Along with three other minor opposition parties, PUMA is a member of the Zimbabwe Organisation of Opposition Political Parties.