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Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
At least 43 MDC-T members from Makokoba constituency in Bulawayo yesterday defected to Zanu-PF in protest over alleged imposition of candidates by the party leaders. The defectors were welcomed by Zanu-PF Politburo member and National Assembly candidate for Makokoba, Colonel Tshinga Dube (Rtd), Central Committee member Cde Molly Mpofu and aspiring councillor for Ward 8 Cde Jairos Maropa, among other party members at Burombo Flats in Makokoba.
Some of them cited displeasure at the party provincial leadership, which they said lacked clear empowerment strategies.
They accused the leaders of concentrating on empowering themselves and dividing the party.
Others said they had been promised a lot of things since 1999 when they joined the party but had not benefited anything to date.
Rtd Col Dube says he is determined to make the constituency one of the best in the country by improving the lives of youths through nurturing their talents.
In an interview after the inaugural Makokoba Football Challenge at Makokoba’s 11th Street Grounds at the weekend, Rtd Col Dube said the event would be an annual event to promote and advance people with different talents which include music, sport and also provide vocational training.
The event was attended by Governor and Resident Minister for Matabeleland South Angeline Masuku, Central Committee member Cde Molly Mpofu and other senior party officials.
Rtd Col Dube’s MDC-T rival in the constituency, Mr Gorden Moyo, also briefly attended the event, which saw six football teams competing. “Most young people in Makokoba are unemployed and spend most of their time on the streets. We decided to come up with an annual Makokoba Football Challenge to try to build the constituency and make it one of the best in the country.
“The idea is to use activities such as sport, music and other income-generating projects to empower young people,” said he said.
Rtd Col Dube, whose main theme is the revival of Bulawayo, said he was keen to help the people of Bulawayo to be independent and be able to do things for themselves.
“My main theme of my campaign is the revival of Bulawayo. If we can revive it, then everything else will come to life. The first thing is to motivate our people to rise and do things for themselves since nobody has been able to do things for them.
“I want to teach the people here to rise and look after themselves and to do everything they can to make their lives better, then we can assist them wherever we can on projects,” he said.
He urged the people of Makokoba to vote for Zanu-PF during the harmonised elections.
Online Reporter