HARARE - Industry minister Welshman Ncube’s MDC faction is an empty shell with no real representation as shown by MPs and councillors deserting the party, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said.

Mutambara and Ncube have renewed their war for recognition as the legitimate leader of the faction after MPs and councillors who had deserted the party were expelled by Ncube this week.

Ncube fired the five MPs and 49 councillors claiming they had crossed the floor to mainstream MDC.

He has now written to Parliament to expel the MPs from the house.

But Mutambara has written a counter letter, claiming the MPs belonged to him. The Supreme Court is yet to decide the legitimate MDC faction leader.

Mutambara said Ncube had no right to fire sitting MPs, describing the move as illegal.

In a letter to Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo yesterday Mutambara said Ncube could not fire the MPs while the issue of the party’s presidency was still contested in courts.

“This note serves to ask you to disregard this illegal communication (letters sent to Moyo by MDC) based on illegitimate actions. Both the issue of whether Welshman Ncube was duly elected president of the MDC in January 2011, and the matter of the legitimacy of the corresponding MDC Congress are before the Supreme Court,” said Mutambara.

“Consequentially, all these issues are subjudice. Hence the entire leadership led by Welshman Ncube, has no locus standi to expel members from MDC,” read part of the letter.

Legislators axed for crossing the floor include Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Nomalanga Khumalo.
Khumalo, who is the Umzingwane MP, was expelled together with Thandeko Zindi Mnkandla of Gwanda North Constituency and Maxwell Dube of Tsholotsho South.

Senators Kembo Dube (Umzingwane South) and Dalumuzi Khumalo (Lupane) were also shown the door on allegations of working with the mainstream MDC party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Three House of Assembly members namely Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, Edward Mkhosi and Patrick Dube as well as Education minister David Coltart in the Senate are what the breakaway party is left with in the august house.

Mutambara said the decision to fire more than 70 percent of the elected representatives raises questions on Ncube’s credentials as a leader and minister.

“This has never happened in the history of constitutional democracies,” he said.

The Ncube-led MDC in 2009 expelled Abednico Bhebhe (Nkayi South), Njabuliso Mguni (Lupane East) and Norman Mpofu (Bulilima East) for allegedly working with the mainstream MDC.

Ncube lost the 2008 parliamentary election but became part of the coalition government on the back of 10 seats won by other party members.

Most of those MPs have since left the party, raising questions about his legitimacy in government. - Wendy Muperi