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Mr Tsvangirai who has reportedly gone into panic mode over the defection of about 154 members in the city has scheduled the meeting for today at the party’s provincial headquarters.
He is also expected to address a Press conference at a local hotel today, where it is anticipated that he would talk about the issue.
Party insiders yesterday said Mr Tsvangirai’s firefighting mission had come as a result of consultations with senior MDC-T officials who reportedly felt the defections were going to open a floodgate of members crossing over to other parties.
“Our leaders are worried because two weeks ago, 84 people defected. Another 70 joined the MDC on Saturday. That is why a crisis meeting has been arranged,” said a source from within the party.
Last week, Mr Tsvangirai reportedly arranged a meeting with the defectors, which he did not attend.
Contacted for comment, the MDC-T Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Mr Mandlenkosi Sibanda confirmed that there would be a provincial assembly meeting.
However, he said the issue of the defections would not be discussed.
“Yes, the Prime Minister will attend our meeting. However, we cannot have a provincial assembly to discuss non-existent issues. What the MDC should be doing is concentrating on mobilising members for elections. Even if there are people who left our party, it is nothing to write home about,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said Mr Tsvangirai was too senior to come to Bulawayo over the defection of only 154 people, when he commanded a following of thousands of Zimbabweans.
Last week, MDC-T youths reportedly threatened violence against the defectors who said they were now sleeping with knives under their pillows, for protection.
The issue of the defections has been a thorn in the flesh for MDC-T.
Two weeks ago, DPM Khupe vehemently refuted the defection, saying the people that had joined the MDC were not from the MDC-T.
Last week, the party’s provincial chairperson, Mr Gorden Moyo also denounced the defectors as impostors.
On Wednesday last week, PM Tsvangirai and DPM Khupe reportedly held a crisis meeting on the defections.
Online Reporter