MDC Alliance rocked by defections

by Claver Nyuki

MDC Alliance continues to feel the heat ahead of the looming general elections after MDC-T members aligned to Nelson Chamisa defected to Zanu PF, castigating the Alliance for lacking political clarity and ideological probity.

Four of the MDC-T members in Mutasa Central led by Ward 10 Assembly Secretary for Elections, Naboth Saruwaka announced the decision at a Zanu PF district meeting, hailing its vision and developmental projects across the constituency.

“Our decision to join Zanu PF has been largely influenced by the party’s vision and developmental projects in the constituency being spearheaded by Jeffa Sakupwanya,” said Saruwaka.

He also praised President Mnangagwa’s leadership style, claiming that it is what the country needs going forward.

“President Mnangagwa’s leadership style and his stance on corruption is what the country needs going forward. The re-engagement policy and Zimbabwe is open for business will definitely have a positive impact on the country’s economic growth,” he said

In a related development, the Alliance Mabvuku-Tafara candidate, James Chidhakwa accused fellow party member, James Maridadi of being a ZANU PF project while addressing a party meeting in the constituency.

“Maridadi is a Zanu PF project sent to split the opposition vote. Everyone knows that he forged the Chairman, Morgan Komichi’s signature in order to file his nomination papers,” he implored.

Chidhakwa also took a swipe at Ward 21 Alliance candidate, Blessing Nhede for filing his papers without the leadership’s consent.

The divisions within the MDC Alliance could have major repercussions in this month’s harmonised elections with information indications that Maridadi had not withdrawn his nomination papers at the time of writing.