BULAWAYO - The Arthur Mutambara faction of the MDC has been dealt another blow following the defection of two Bulawayo city councillors to the mainstream MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Charles Mpofu from Ward 4 Umzingwane also defected to the MDC-T.
I started with Tsvangirai in 2005. We worked hard for this party. My daughter was harassed because of the MDC. When the party got divided, we just followed (David) Coltart. I realized later what had happened and I told myself that anyway, let me continue here. But I must say its good to be back home, said ward 6 councillor, Jennifer Bent.
Ward five councillor, John Ferguson, said he had decided to join Tsvangirai after realizing that the Mutambara faction lacked the capacity to unseat President Robert Mugabe from power. I am more interested in unity of purpose in the party. We cannot dislodge Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) from power as long as we are divided. The MDC led by the Prime Minister is the only party which in my view has the capacity to dislodge Zanu (PF) from power, said Ferguson.
The Mutambara faction has been hit by a spate of resignations of its councillors in Matabeleland province. The partys recent desperate attempts to stop mass resignations in Bulilima, Lupane and Nkayi received a knock when those affected insisted that they were no longer interested in the party and thus not answerable to it any more.
In Lupane the party is reported to have roped in the Lupane district administrator in its bid to prevent the 16 councillors from joining the Prime Ministers party.
Meanwhile a Mutare magistrate, Lucy Mugwari, this week deferred to December 10 the case in which Nyanga North MP, Douglas Mwonzora, is appealing to the Supreme Court challenging his trial for undermining the authority of the President. The same magistrate further postponed the case of MDC Makoni Central chairperson, Teddy Chipere, who is facing similar charges of undermining the authority of the President.
Post published in: News