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Mr Tsvangirai, said to be afraid that the defections would trigger an exodus from his party, has reportedly sent representatives to invite the defectors for “talks” at Stanley Hall in Makokoba on Tuesday.
A total of 84 people from Bulawayo’s Makokoba constituency left the party on Sunday and joined the Prof Ncube-led MDC.
The issue has been sending shockwaves through MDC-T, ever since the defectors were unveiled.
A number of the defectors, who were afraid to speak to the Press, following threats of violence from MDC-T youths, said they had been invited to the meeting.
“Senior colleagues that we used to work with at the MDC-T approached me on Wednesday and said Morgan (PM Tsvangirai) wanted to meet us on Tuesday so that we can iron out our differences.
“Please do not publish my name because my friends who spoke to you have been threatened,” said the defector.
Another person who also crossed over to the MDC said she had been asked to organise her colleagues for the meeting.
“I have been asked to spread the word. I have already told some of my friends. However, whatever we will discuss at the meeting, I will not go back to the MDC-T because Ms Khupe treated us like dogs. On top of that, her youths are threatening to beat us up,” said the woman.
“MDC-T will never abandon their culture of violence. We want to tell Tsvangirai that we will not be intimidated by the party’s threats of violence. If he wants to have members, he should start treating people with respect.”
A number of the defectors declined to discuss the issue.
“If you want a story, come to Stanley Hall. Speaking through the Press is a problem because those thugs will then target us. I want to speak openly in front of Tsvangirai, not through the newspaper,” said another defector.
MDC-T provincial chairperson for Bulawayo Mr Gorden Moyo declined to comment on the development.
“I have been in Johannesburg since Tuesday. I do not know what is happening on the ground. You can talk to the party’s provincial secretary, Mr Reggie Moyo,” said Mr Moyo.
Mr Reggie Moyo, who is also the Member of the House for Assembly for Luveve said he could not comment on the issue and referred questions to the MDC-T Bulawayo spokesperson, Mr Mandla Sibanda.
“I know the PM might pass through Bulawayo on his way to an event that he has been invited to by Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, on 26 June. However, further details can be supplied by Sibanda,” said Mr Moyo.
Mr Sibanda could not be reached on his mobile phone. The issue of the defections has been a thorn in the flesh of the MDC-T.
The MDC’s secretary for information and publicity in Bulawayo, Mr Edwin Ndlovu, said the MDC-T was a party of hypocrites.
“They are the Judas Iscariot of our time. They first denied ever knowing the defectors. They then went on to threaten them and now we hear that their dear leader wants to meet the people they do not know. They never cease to amaze us. They are a confused party that will never hold a single position for more than a minute,” said Mr Ndlovu.
On Sunday, DPM Thokozani Khupe vehemently disowned the defectors, saying they were not from the MDC-T.
On Tuesday, Mr Gorden Moyo went to great pains, also denouncing the defectors as impostors.
On Wednesday Press reports indicated that PM Tsvangirai and DPM Khupe reportedly held a crisis meeting on the defections.
Some of the defectors on Tuesday said they were now sleeping with knives and other weapons under their pillows, following threats by MDC-T youths.
In April last year intra-party violence rocked MDC-T with party members in Bulawayo reportedly living in fear after factions vying for the party’s post of chairperson in the province allegedly hired gangsters to beat up their rivals.
Brutal free-for-all scenes marked the party’s meetings in the run-up to its national congress as party members jostled for posts.
A number of the party’s members were admitted to hospital after the clashes.
Online Reporter