The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
The rampant defection of MDC Alliance leaders to the ruling Zanu PF has been a result of not only the endless power struggles within the opposition party, but President Mnangagwa’s solution oriented leadership manifesting in progressive policies, a senior Government and Zanu PF official has said.
Former senior opposition MDC officials, Senator James Makore and ex-national spokesperson, Mr Obert Gutu recently jumped ship and joined Zanu PF.
Cdes Gutu and Makore are originally from Gutu and Chivi districts respectively and were welcomed by the ruling party national leadership at State House.
Prior to the pair’s defection, former MDC Masvingo Urban legislator, Cde Tongai Matutu, had also abandoned the sinking opposition ship to join Zanu PF.
He was later followed by MDC Alliance deputy treasurer, Cde Liliam Timveous and Cde Blessing Chebundo, the former opposition legislator for Kwekwe Central.
Commenting on the developments while addressing villagers at Manzununu Secondary School in Mutare South recently, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, who is also Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, said President Mnangagwa’s leadership has been solution oriented, hence the en masse defection of MDC Alliance members.
“When you look at the recent defections of MDC leaders to the ruling party, it has been a direct result of the endless power struggles within the opposition as well as President Mnangagwa’s solution oriented leadership manifesting in progressive policies.
“The evidence is there on the ground for everyone to see. When we had challenges in food security as a nation, President Mnangagwa moved in with haste to introduce polices that boost production. We can see the success story of the Pfumvudza programme.
“When Covid-19 wreaked havoc world over, killing a lot of people in different parts of the world, President Mnangagwa moved in to ensure that apart from the preventative lockdown restrictions, the country gets vaccines early. We are one of the earliest countries to get vaccines in Africa, all because the President is vigilant and is always working hard in search of solutions to our challenges.
“When he saw that the roads were in bad shape all over the country, President Mnangagwa did not turn a deaf ear. As a servant leader he instantly declared the roads a state of disaster. Today, we are witnessing a concerted road maintenance and refurbishment process set in motion through relevant Government departments like CMED and DDF,” said Senator Mutsvangwa.
Cde Chris Mutsvangwa weighed in saying even MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa wants to be part of the ruling party, but he wants to do so clandestinely.
“When they (defecting leaders) saw that their leader, Nelson Chamisa, is making frantic moves at night to join President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF, they decided to outmanoeuvre him and join the ruling party in broad daylight,” said the Zimbabwe National War Association leader.
Zanu PF structures have been encouraged to embrace senior opposition members who are joining the ruling party which is angling to garner more than 5 million votes in the next general elections due in 2023. Secretary for security in the Zanu PF politburo, Cde Lovemore Matuke, recently cautioned party members against victimisation and denigrating those joining the revolutionary party.
