BULAWAYO - The smaller MDC formation led by Industry minister Welshman Ncube has suffered a setback in its stronghold of Matabeleland South Province after 13 district members crossed the floor to the mainstream MDC.

Described by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai as a village politician, Ncube had been building a base in the area before being hit by the defections.

Kenford Nkala, a local councillor left with 12 other district members.

They formally defected to Tsvangirai’s MDC at a rally held at Nkazhe Business Centre in Gwanda North constituency on Monday.

The district members who defected are Julia Moyo, Rebecca Dube, Oscar Moyo, John Nyathi, Fidias Moyo, Sihle Ndlovu, Eva Mudzviti, Filda Nkala, Lucia Nyathi, Eva Phiri, Margaret Ngwenya and Trust Ndlovu.

Gwanda North Constituency is held by Thandeko Zindo Mnkandla from Ncube’s party. Addressing the rally, Nkala said: “The Ncube-led MDC is only there to divide votes and will not be able to remove Zanu PF.”

“In 2008, Ncube brought Simba Makoni and Dumiso Dabengwa to divide the votes which were supposed to go to Tsvangirai. Now Ncube is back again trying to divide the Matabeleland votes at Tsvangirai’s expense. He has nothing to offer,” said Nkala.

Nkala and the group surrendered their party cards to MDC chairperson for Matabeleland South Washy Sibanda.

“We have welcomed the defectors to our party. Our party is not regional.

Ncube officials join Tsvangirai.

“Our party is national in outlook and people continue defecting to us after realising that they have been taken for a ride by Ncube,” Sibanda said.

Kurauone Chihwayi, the deputy spokesperson for Ncube’s MDC, dismissed the defections as a non-event.

“This guy Nkala defected some two years ago. We do not know whether he defected for the third time. He has been defecting at every rally held in Matabeleland South,” said Chihwayi.

“He is trying to bootlick Tsvangirai. We do not want him. He wants to see how he can get a post in the MDC by defecting now and then.

“Secondly, we do not know the other 12 members. They are not in our records,” Chihwayi said.

Ncube’s MDC, which split from the main party in 2005, secured its highest number of parliamentary seats in Matabeleland South province in the 2008 election. -
Pindai Dube