FORMER MDC Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Edwin Ndlovu has defected to the mainstream MDC-T throwing the Welshman Ncube-led party into further turmoil.
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Ndlovu, who resigned from the MDC a fortnight ago, citing personal issues, said he decided to come back into politics by joining the Morgan Tsvangirai-led party.
“I have been persuaded by the people to come back to politics. If we work together as MDCs and other political parties, we can remove Zanu PF from power,” he told journalists in Bulawayo last week.
“I have decided to be under the big tent, meaning I have decided to join the MDC-T so that as people of Zimbabwe we can work together to remove Zanu PF from power.”
Ndlovu said fights between opposition parties were not necessary.
“People of Zimbabwe are now sick and tired of us opposition political parties fighting among themselves,” he said. “I have been persuaded by people who are saying if we keep on fighting we will never remove Zanu PF from power. The energy opposition parties use to fight themselves is more than the energy they use to fight Zanu PF.”
Ndlovu said he would soon approach his former colleagues to come to the “big tent.”
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He said in the last elections, if all the political parties had worked together, they were going to beat Zanu PF. A fragmented opposition contributed to Zanu PF’s resounding victory in last year’s July 31 elections, he said.
“Yes, to a larger extent the elections were rigged but also as political parties, as MDCs in particular, we contributed in the loss of the election. Both MDC formations,” he said.
“We were now concentrating on minor issues and on personal issues and differences rather than liberating the people of Zimbabwe from Zanu PF.”
The Ncube-led MDC has been dogged by defections since its dismal performance in last year’s elections where it failed to win a single seat.
The situation was exacerbated by failure by the MDC party leadership to resolve the discontent by the members following the controversial appointment of Secretary-General Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga as Umzingwane parliamentarian under the women’s quota.
Those who have reportedly left the party are former Insiza South MP and national executive council member, Siyabonga Malandu Ncube, former research and policy director Qhubani Moyo and secretary for international relations Sondon Mugaradziko.
Another national executive member Edward Mkhosi has also joined the mainstream MDC, along with many others.
Matabeleland South chairman Petros Mukwena was also expelled while the party’s Bulawayo secretary for the youth, Ntando Ndlovu, reportedly resigned.
Efforts to get a comment from MDC spokesman, Nhlanhla Dube were fruitless.
Political analyst, Thabani Moyo said the future of the MDC was bleak. “This is the end of the MDC. As you can see most of its key members are leaving the party and it’s going to be difficult for it to rise again,” he said.
Nyoni said Ncube as the MDC president had worsened the situation by “going into hiding”.
