Political Reporter
Scores of MDC-Alliance members in Bulawayo last weekend defected to ZANU PF with all admitting that they were in the wrong basket and now want to be part of the revolutionary party.
The over 50 MDC-Alliance defectors were well received by interim Bulawayo Provincial Chairperson, Cde Obert Msindo, Youth League National Secretary for Lands and Resettlement, Cde Cecelia Verenga, Youth League Interim Provincial Chairperson, Freedom Murechu and DCC Area 4 Secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde Rumbidzai Chivi among other ZANU PF officials.
One of the defectors, Gilbert Mhlanga said he regretted his time in MDC-Alliance as that party has nothing to offer to the people of Zimbabwe.
“I regret my time in the opposition trenches. The opposition, in all its various formations, has nothing to offer to the people of Zimbabwe. When they gather, they always talk of how to violently remove the Government. They don’t care about empowering their people like what ZANU PF always do,” said Mhlanga.
Another defector, Hilda Muchineripi said she had been contemplating joining ZANU PF, but was afraid that the party might refuse to accommodate her.
“I had been contemplating to join ZANU PF since 2017, but I was afraid that I might not be received. The welcome given to Cdes Lilian Timveous and Blessing Chebundo gave me courage to join the party as I realized that ZANU PF was not a monster as always said by the MDC-Alliance leadership,” said Muchineripi.
Bekimpilo Ncube said the continuous infighting within the MDC-Alliance made him cross the great divide and join the ruling party.
This year has seen a number of opposition members defecting to ZANU PF after being charmed by the ruling party’s policies that are pro-people.
Last week, more than 100 people drawn from MDC Alliance and Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), including a former legislator for Hwange West, Peter Nyoni, defected to ZANU-PF in Hwange district saying they wanted to work with a party that is pro-people and development.
In April this year, over 150 former MDC members from Gweru district joined ZANU-PF as they sought a new political home following the continuous chaos within the MDC-Alliance.
Other high profile former MDC-Alliance members such as Lilian Timveous, Blessing Chebundo and Obert Gutu have since joined the ruling party. Timveous and Chebundo have already completed their ideological lessons at Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
