Former Victoria Falls Mayor defects to Zanu-PF

Rutendo Nyeve and Blessed Moyo

FORMER Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dlamini has defected from the Movement for Democratic Change which he joined after he left Citizens Coalition for Change citing rejection from the opposition, charm, support and inspiring works being done by the ZANU PF-led Second Republic.

Dlamini officially announced and joined the ruling party during ZANU PF’s Home/Ekhaya.Kumusha programme held on Saturday at Mlonga village in Jambezi on the outskirts of Victoria Falls. The occasion was graced by ZANU PF national commissar Munyaradzi Machacha.

In an interview with Sunday News following his defection, Dlamini said he has decided to join the ruling party after observing the good works being done by the Second Republic.

“ZANU PF is doing things differently under the Second Republic. If you look at the work that it has done at Hwange Power Station through the construction of the additional Units 7 and 8, the state of the art upgrade of the Beitbridge border post, various road rehabilitation projects and the Gwayi – Shangani which is now more than 70 percent completion, one can see that it is doing well.

“As such I have decided to join and support this positive trajectory that is developing our country. What I want is to work for the sake of my country. There is no need to oppose for the sake of opposing. I have decided to be part of a team that is innovative,” said Dlamini.

He said he faced so much rejection in the opposition ever since assuming the Mayor position in 2018 but ironically got support from ZANU PF which also saw the City of Victoria Falls benefiting.

“You will know that I was rejected by the then Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) President Nelson Chamisa in 2018 which led me to join the Douglas Mwonzora led Movement for Democratic Change that I have been part of till my defection. I was frequently suspended from my position which shows how I was rejected.

“However, as a Mayor and Victoria Falls as a City consistently got support from ZANU PF, something that really inspired me to consider joining the ruling party. You will also recall that I was arrested during the same time with Job Sikhala but the opposition focused on Sikhala and no one said anything about me,” said Dlamini.

Speaking on his future political plans, Dlamini said he has not taken any decision to contest for any position but will cross the bridge when he gets there.

Dlamini was joined by more than 500 other opposition CCC members from Binga and Hwange. Notably, the members include incumbent Mbhizha ward councilor Namo Chuma who won as an independent candidate, former Binga RDC chairman Munkombwe Dube and former legislator Pareick Sibanda.

Dlamini is not the first former Mayor to defect to ZANU PF. In 2010, the then Mayor of Victoria Faalls Nkosilathi Jiyane defected from the then Morgen Tsvangirai led MDC-T saying he found the conditions in ‘once his beloved party (ZANU PF) very unconducive living him with the natural action to take being to leave the MDC-T

Mayor Jiyane then said he was persecuted by councillors from his own party and the party itself during his tenure as mayor.