The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
SEVERAL MDC-T members among them high ranking officials have defected to Zanu-PF after years of frustrations in the opposition party.
The members who included former national secretary for local government, Ms Thokozani Bote and Nyanga Rural District Council Ward 26 councillor, Ms Viola Tongoona announced the decision to turn their backs on the embattled MDC-T at a Zanu-PF rally to drum up support for the party’s candidate for the Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency, Cde Isau ‘Hwindi’ Mupfumi at Dangamvura Community Ground yesterday.
The rally which was addressed by Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko was attended by more than 3 000 party members among them four candidates that contested and lost in the Zanu-PF primary elections. The four include Cdes Binali Yard, Kenneth Muchina, Mike Duru and Future Pariyani.
In separate interviews on the sideline of the rallies, the defectors said they had seen the light that the MDCs were directionless and were being led by selfish people who do not have the electorate’s interests at heart.
Ms Tongoona said: “I have realised that there is no future in opposition parties, hence this bold decision to join Zanu-PF. I was never forced or coerced, but I realised that MDC-T under the leadership of Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has totally failed the people of Zimbabwe. You cannot have selfish leaders at the helm of a party. They want nothing else, but total power and power has blinded them.”
Ms Bote who once served as the deputy national treasurer in the MDC-T women assembly said she had actively participated in the party for the past 16 years, but has never been appreciated by the party’s leadership.
“As a family we were actively involved in the recruitment of supporters in Chipinge. Chipinge was a Zanu-Ndonga stronghold and together with my late father we worked tirelessly to recruit supporters for MDC-T. I realised how heartless Tsvangirai is after the death of my father as he did not have the courtesy of sending a condolence message despite knowing him very well. This affected me so much and from 2009 I took a deep reflection and realised that being in MDC-T was not the best thing for me.
“When the Renewal Team came on board, I was quick to join them, but I realised that they are birds of a feather. Biti (Tendai) and Mangoma (Elton) are power hungry. They are loud-mouthed but bankrupt when it comes to policies,” she said.
Ms Bote hailed Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene and Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Win Mlambo for working hard to reunite people.
“These two ministers should be credited for uniting the people of Manicaland. They were at the forefront of uniting Zanu-PF and Ndonga and they are now luring more people to Zanu-PF through their unity gospel. Many people are defecting to Zanu-PF especially in Musikavanhu constituency in Chipinge because the National Assembly member there, Mr Prosper Mutseyami has neglected the constituency,” she said.
Other MDC-T members who announced their defection include Ms Sithembile Mambirwi from Mutasa, Mrs Irene Chigayo (information and publicity secretary, Dangamvura-Chikanga) and her husband, Mr Bothwell Chigayo.
Addressing the rally, Cde Mphoko called for unity of purpose among all cadres.
“It is pleasing to note that the candidates who lost during primary elections are also part of Cde Mupfumi’s campaign team. This is the attitude that we want and not adopting the bhora musango attitude.
“We should vote overwhelmingly for Cde Mupfumi. It will not only be victory for Cde Mupfumi, but Zanu-PF and President Mugabe,” said Cde Mphoko.
Speaking at the same rally, Zanu-PF national secretary for the commissariat, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, said the MDCs were now history after the electorate realised that they are puppets of the West.
“All these years, MDC-T has dismally failed to deliver on its promises to the electorate. The party is just preoccupied by removing Zanu-PF from power with no solutions to the challenges facing the nation. If it was a church, MDC-T could have closed shop a long time ago,” he said.
Cde Kasukuwere urged the electorate to shun independent candidates saying most of them are employment seekers with nothing to offer to the electorate. Cde Mupfumi will be battling it out for the Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency with seven other candidates, among them Mr Pfugamai Mawire (Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn), Mr Ruramayi Musiiwa (NCA), Mr Piwai Gashirai (Freedom Party), Mr Maxwell Teedzai (Transform Zimbabwe), Mr Chengetai Richard Kadzere (Independent), Mr James Mundenda (Independent) and Mr Kuziva Maundike (Independent).
Yesterday’s rally was attended by Politburo members among them Cdes Oppah Muchinguri, Chris Mushohwe, Monica Mutsvangwa and Kudzanai Chipanga. Other senior members include, acting chairman, Dr Samuel Undenge, Cde Chimene, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira and Cde Phillip Chiyangwa. Two members who were reported to be part of former Vice-President Mujuru’s cabal, Cdes Munacho Mutezo and Enock Porusingazi also attended.
