Joseph Madzimure
Zimpapers Politics Hub
FORMER Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Bulawayo provincial chairwoman Tendai Lubu Masotsha has defected to ZANU PF, saying she had abandoned opposition politics after becoming convinced that Zimbabwe’s development agenda required a different approach.
Cde Masotsha, who was a vocal opposition activist and critic of the ruling party during her time in the MDC, MDC Alliance and later CCC, made the announcement yesterday when she was welcomed into ZANU PF at the party headquarters in Harare.
She said her decision was a “conscious, patriotic” choice influenced by what she described as the development taking place across the country under President Mnangagwa.
“Today, I stand before you to say I have quitted opposition politics,” said Cde Masotsha.
“I have made a conscious, patriotic decision to cross over from the opposition to the ruling party, ZANU PF, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.”
Cde Masotsha said she had become increasingly uncomfortable with what she described as a cycle of opposition parties promising change without delivering tangible improvements to their supporters.
She said opposition politicians had repeatedly told Zimbabweans that change was imminent, only for years to pass without the promised transformation.
“We promised change was coming tomorrow, next year, in the next election — change, change, change, change,” she said.
“Yet deep down, we knew nothing was coming anytime soon.”
She said the consequences of such promises had been particularly painful because some supporters had died while waiting for the change they had been promised.
“What pains me most is that some of the people we made those promises to have died while waiting. They died suffering, holding on to our empty promises,” she said.
Cde Masotsha said she subsequently questioned whether continued opposition for its own sake was benefiting ordinary Zimbabweans.
“I began to ask myself: are we not becoming victims of the continued suffering of our own people by opposing for the sake of opposing?” she said.
She said her decision was also motivated by a desire to influence development from within the ruling establishment rather than remaining outside government and criticising its programmes.
“I can carry the voice of the voiceless from inside, where development is planned and mandated,” she said.
“I want to save my province, Bulawayo. I want to save my region.”
Cde Masotsha said she intended to remain active in ZANU PF and use her political experience to engage people who remained in opposition.
“I’m not joining ZANU-PF as a silent member. I’m joining to work, to build, to be a bridge for all those who believe in me, in the opposition, to bring their concerns to where solutions are made,” she said.
“Zimbabwe needs builders now, not just critics.”
Cde Masotsha was welcomed by ZANU PF Political Commissar Cde Munyaradzi Machacha and members of the party’s Women’s League led by its Secretary for Finance, Cde Tsitsi Mugabe.
Cde Machacha said ZANU PF was seeking to expand its membership, particularly in urban areas.
He said the party had been tasked with recruiting at least one new member per existing member every year, with a target of six million members ahead of the next elections.
“We are targeting to mobilise at least six million members by the time we go for the next elections,” Cde Machacha said.
He said the party was also seeking strategies to strengthen its presence in urban centres, particularly Harare and Bulawayo.
