Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) 24 MDC-T members defect

24 MDC-T members defect
By: TC.
Posted: Thursday, July 1, 2010 9:51 pm

TWENTY-four MDC-T members in Mbembesi yesterday defected from the party to join the MDC formation led by Professor Authur Mutambara. The party members cited MDC-T leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s “anti-Matabeleland stance” as the reason for them to jump ship.

The 24 resigned in front of MDC member of the national executive, Mr Jeffret Bafana Khumalo, at one of the party member’s homesteads in Ntabazinduna. They asked Mr Collen Tshuma, the Umguza District organising secretary, to hand back the MDC-T membership cards to the Matabeleland North leadership.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa said he had not received a report of the defection and said his party was going strong.

“We did not receive anything like that (defections) and our party is going strong. We do not have a policy of sidelining any province because our party is one,” he said.

Mr Tshuma was one of those who defected alongside Mr Themba Nyathi, who was responsible for information and publicity in Ward 4, Mr Samson Dube the Ward 5 chairperson, Ward 4 youth chairman, Mr Nqobizitha Dube, and Mrs Beauty Sibanda from the youth wing, among others.

Mr Tshuma said the members had decided to join MDC after realising that the MDC-T leadership was against the people of Matabeleland.

He said the manner the party was handling party projects and national appointments was testimony that the MDC-T leadership had nothing to offer to the people of Matabeleland.

“We have worked in the party for 10 years but we did not receive recognition for our efforts. We have suggested projects and written several project proposals but nothing has ever come to us because we, the people of Matabeleland, are seen as second-class citizens,” he said.

“He fired Gorden Moyo (Minister Moyo, who was moved from the Prime Minister’s Officer to the Ministry of Parastatals and State Enterprises) and (Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment deputy Minister) Thamsanqa Mahlangu, our youth leader who is from Matabeleland. This is testimony that the people of Matabeleland are not valued.”

On Wednesday last week, Prime Minister Tsvangirai announced 16 ministerial changes to the line-up of MDC-T ministers in the inclusive Government.

Political analysts from Matabeleland such as Mr Israel Moyo and Mr Paul Siwela, however, said Mr Tsvangirai should have considered politicians from Matabeleland for some Cabinet posts in the reshuffle.

There was also an outcry when the MDC-T joined the inclusive Government with the people of Matabeleland feeling hard done by his decision to include a few ministers from the region despite the party having enjoyed a lot of support from the region since its formation.

Analysts said the failure to replace Mr Mahlangu and the reassignment of Minister Moyo from the Prime Minister’s Office was an indication that PM Tsvangirai was on a crusade to sideline politicians from the region.

Mr Tshuma said the MDC should be people-centred and also take seriously the concerns of the people from Matabeleland.

Mr Tshuma said the people from his party should advocate devolution of power to protect their interests.

Mr Khumalo welcomed the members to the MDC and took the opportunity to advise them to advocate the devolution of power and proportional representation when the constitution outreach teams reach the area.

The MDC is supporting the devolution of power and proportional representation.

“I stayed in the United Kingdom for seven years. In that country the Scots rule themselves, the Welsh rule themselves and the Irish are fighting to rule themselves. It does not mean that the country is split. It simply means that the decisions are made at local level. Devolution of power would result in the national cake being shared in a transparent manner,” said Mr Khumalo, the former Member of Parliament for Pelandaba.

“We also want proportional representation to ensure that even the small parties are represented in Parliament. This system ensures that all votes count. The first-past-the-post system which we are using doesn’t help us because it says if someone gets 50 votes and another person gets 51, the 50 votes don’t count.

“We want a system where all votes count so that the rights of the people are protected.”

Labels: MDC, MDC-M, TRIBALISM

posted by MrK @ 8:56 PM