27 MDC-M Councillors defect to Tsvangirai

Nkayi – The crisis ridden smaller faction of the MDC led by professor Arthur Mutambara has been dealt with another major blow following the resignation from the party of 27 councillors from Nkayi South and North. In a letter dated 10 June 2010 and addressed to the party’s secretary general, Professor Welshman Ncube the councilors said they had joined MDC-T.

“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.”

“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,” reads party of the letter which is in Radio VOP possession.

The letter which is also copied to Mutambara and the party’s national chairperson further says “Please don’t bother yourselves anymore to contact us .The chapter is closed. It was good doing politics with you.”

The letter which was dropped at the party’s regional offices by the ward 21 councillor Sicelo Mpofu on Friday last week also have national identity numbers and signatures of the councilors who have deserted the party.

Two weeks ago 16 councillors from Lupane East, sympathetic to the sacked former MP for the area Njabuliso Mguni, also resigned from the party accusing the party’s leadership of dictatorship and dining and wining with Zanu (PF). The Nkayi councillors are also believed to be sympathetic to Abedinco Bhebhe, the former MP of the area who was also sacked by the party along side with former Bulilima East MP Norman Mpofu.

There are also reports that other MDC-M councilors from Gwanda, Hwange and Tsholotsho were planning to abandon the party. When reached for comment the party’s spokesperson, Edwin Mushoriwa denied that the councillors had resigned.

“What you are talking about is a fake letter. We have had such letters before. Those people who want to resign they know the proper way of doing it,’ said Mushoriwa. Mushoriwa claimed his party is getting more support in Nkayi and Lupane. Radio VOP

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