MDC-M Leader Authur Mutambara
HARARE - Twenty seven councillors in the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC have walked out of the party and crossed floors to the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai in the latest mass defections to rock the party.
The mass defections come hardly two weeks after 16 councillors from Lupane East resigned from the party in solidarity with their sacked MP, Njabuliso Mguni, who also accused the party leadership of supping with Zanu (PF).
The 27 councillors from Nkayi South and North jumped ship on June 10. They said their constituents had taken the decision and they were simply following what the people who voted them into office wanted.
The impetus for the latest rebellion is not immediately clear according to the resignation letters, but inside sources say there was concern that Mutambara was ingratiating himself more and more with President Mugabe.
“We the undersigned Nkayi RDC councilors who were voted under your party hereby advice you that we resigned from your party MDC-M. We are pleased to advice you that we have joined MDC-T," said the resignation letter signed by all the councillors and addressed to party secretary general Welshman Ncube. The letter was copied to Mutambara.
Ncube was not immediately available for comment on the matter.
But the letter continued: "For the avoidance of doubt we would like to inform you that our reason for crossing the floor was directed by the electorate who voted us into office on 29-03-08. Please don’t bother yourselves anymore to contact us .The chapter is closed. It was good doing politics with you."
Party spokesman Ediwn Mushoriwa however denied that there were massive defections, saying "we have not received any official communication to that effect."
He described the letter as "fake" and said it wasnt the first letter the party had received purpoting to communicate defections.
But ward 21 councillor Sicelo Mpofu said no amount of denials would reverse the decision.
(C) Zimbabwe Reporter 2010
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