Over 300 MDC-T members defect to Zanu-PF

Some of the defectors yesterday cited displeasure at the party leadership which they said lacked clear empowerment strategies.

Others said they had been promised a lot of things since 1999, when they joined the party, but had not benefited anything to date.
Mr Sylvester Guvheya, a former district chairman in Chegutu, yesterday said they had decided to rejoin Zanu-PF as the MDC-T was not doing them any good.

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“We have been with the party since 1999 and being old members we are being looked down upon by those with the financial power. Those who lead the structures are not open in the way they conduct their duties and we feel betrayed,” he said. “We have discovered that we cannot work with them and it is better to go back home to Zanu-PF and try to benefit from the empowerment programmes that are being run there.”

Cde Guvheya said they had committed themselves to work for Zanu-PF and ensure MDC-T defeat in the coming elections.
“We tried to forward concerns to the headquarters in Harare, but there was no response. That showed us that we were only important to them during elections,” he said.

Another defector, Ms Sophia Robo, who led the campaign team in the district, said they felt used by Chegutu West Member of Parliament Takalani Matibe.

“We have been campaigning for the MDC-T since the time they were competing against Cde (Webster) Shamu in 2000 hoping that they would respond to our problems. Before Matibe became MP, he promised us a lot of projects, but to date nothing has materialised,” he said. “If you see him driving nowadays and try to talk to him, he will ignore you.

There is no use for us to continue working with such a person. No one wants to live on lies and it is better we join a party that gives us tangible benefits.”

Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman Cde John Mafa confirmed hundreds of people had rejoined the revolutionary party. “They have been coming and since Independence Day this year, over 300 have surrendered the MDC-T regalia and have committed themselves to working with us,” he said.