Former MP’s dump Ncube to join Tsvangirai

The Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC on Saturday unveiled its latest recruits from the MDC fronted by Professor Welshman Ncube, Edward Mkhosi and Siyabonga Malandu Ncube, former Mangwe and Insiza South legislators to its Bulawayo supporters praising them for heeding the call to put up a united force. 

This week, Job Sikhala, MDC 99 leader, also joined forces with Tsvangirai, who has been continuously singing a “Let’s unite” chorus to other political parties.

The former MDC legislators and MDC 99 leader were unveiled and paraded at an MDC-T rally party held at Stanley Square on Saturday.

Speaking at the rally, Mkhosi said he and his counterpart, Malandu, had heeded Tsvangirai’s call to become one and fight a common enemy, which was Zanu-PF.

He narrated the history of the MDC formation in 1999, in which he was one of the founding fathers where the vision was to have leaders that would represent people’s interests.

“During MDC’s formation in Harare, leaders were chosen to stand for the people. The party is for leaders who want to represent people. I am here because MDC-T is calling for unity. I responded to that call, not to destroy other opposing parties but to fight Zanu-PF.

“The aim is to remove Mugabe from power instead we have been trying to unseat each other and failing to do what we ought to, which is removing (President Robert) Mugabe.”

Mkhosi said even his constituents in Mangwe (where he lost in 2013) asked him why opposition parties were warring amongst themselves and not uniting since they were fighting for one cause.

“I am happy that I am here, with Sikhala, together we can remove Mugabe from power,” he said.

Sikhala, who drew cheers from the crowd, described his joining MDC-T as a magical call.

“We looked for each other. Tsvangirai said to me ‘Sikhala how can you let Mugabe undress me like this when we can fight him together. Let’s put the interests of the people ahead, until when will we continue fighting each other.’ This struggle is bigger than individuals,” he narrated.

In buoyancy, Sikhala said: “I have come to the party, I have come back my president, with all my commitment.”

Sikhala said MDC-T would complete what it started 1999 and was devising strategy not to let Zanu-PF steal the elections again.

“We have been always complaining about electoral theft and we can continue until eternity but we are going to adopt a paradigm shift. Mugabe should regret that the peoples vote cannot be rigged. We are not waiting for 2018 to remove him from power, Mugabe should go now,”he said.

MDC-T National Chairman, Lovemore Moyo, said the coming in of these men indicated the party was alive and strong.

“MDC-T will not be destroyed. We are in-fact building a brand through this process of uniting people,” he said.

In welcoming his latest recruits, Tsvangirai handed the three MDC-T regalia and recited a mock prayer consisting of slogans.

When the MDC split in 2005, Sikhala went with the faction of the party led by then Secretary General Welshman Ncube.

A few years later he broke away from Prof Ncube’s party citing what he called dictatorial tendencies. He then formed his MDC-99, naming it after the year in which the MDC was formed.

Before joining MDC-T, Mkhosi and Malandu were reportedly unhappy at Ncube’s MDC over the alleged imposition of Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga in Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South and wanted to quit.

Mkhosi, who was more open, then admitted the imposition of Misihairabwi-Mushonga in Umzingwane was causing divisions in the party. Radio Dialogue