Beleaguered Welshman Ncube led MDC could be faced with more senior members defections to the MDC Renewal.
Very reliable sources in the MDC Renewal claim that former MDC National Spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube and former Secretary General and parliamentarian Priscillia Misihairabwi Mushonga could be the latest former right hand persons to Professor Welshman Ncube to make a move to the MDC Renewal. Also mentioned in the list of senior MDC officials said to be making their way to the MDC Renewal is former Gwanda mayor Lionel De Necker.
The sources indicated that the MDC Renewal is strategically building up for it’s congress scheduled to be held before the end of the year and so in the process of recruiting “big brains and reputable people” to have the people elected into the party’s structures at congress. According to the sources the party is welcoming most people “disgruntled by the operations of the MDC and the MDC T as they seek to reestablish the 1999 founding values of the MDC.”
The sources claim that Mushonga, Dube and De Necker have been approached by the party’s senior officials and have agreed on paper to join the party and an announcement will be officially made soon. The sources claim that negotiations are currently being held with several other prominent opposition politicians in favour of democratic principles of the original MDC.
Other high ranking former MDC officials who have found their way into the MDC Renewal include former National Chairman Frank Chamunorwa, former Matabeleland South Chairman Petros Mukwena and several other members of the youth wing.
Contacted for a comment, Dube and De Necker rubbished the said moves to the MDC Renewal.
“They are possibly speaking from the realm of wishes and dreams,” said Dube.
De Necker also described the link to the Renewal as wishful thinking by the MDC Renewal leadership. He denied attending a meeting with the MDC Renewal officials where he was offered a senior position in the party’s National Executive.
“The MDC Renewal is composed mostly of people I have worked with in the MDC and they remain my friends and nothing can stop me from associating with them,” said De Necker.
An official of the MDC who would not have his name published however indicated that there could be an element of truth in the information provided by the sources. The official indicated that at a recent standing committee meeting held in Gweru a motion seeking to withdraw Mushonga from parliament because of her links with the MDC Renewal was moved but left unclosed. He further indicated that De Necker could indeed be on his way out of the party after the former mayor has been disassociating himself with party activities including withdrawing from the party’s national executive committee social media chat groups.
The official further stated that there is a likelihood of seeing more members of the party moving to the MDC Renewal ahead of the party’s congress with a hope of landing leadership positions at the congress. The two parties have been negotiating a unification exercise which appears to have collapsed prompting an exodus of ambitious members to the newly formed party.