Vusumuzi Dube
Sunday News Correspondent
THE Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai-led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) yesterday suffered yet another blow when more than 700 of its supporters from the Ndlovu area in Victoria Falls defected to Zanu-PF citing displeasure in the party-s leadership.
MDC-T has over the past months been rocked by a number of defections which saw the party reacting by instructing its national organising department to go round the country conducting an audit of their structures ahead of the party’s anniversary celebrations set for Bulawayo at the end of this month.
Speaking during a rally organised by Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu co-ordinator of Women’s Voices a group that incorporates women from Victoria Falls and Hwange, Mrs Loveness Nyoni, said as a group they had since decided to come back home as the MDC-T was not doing them any good.
“As you see for yourselves we are a large group, we bring to you a complement of over 700 women and when I say women I naturally mean 700 families, these are the people I lead and they are all coming back home because we have since realised that we were lost.
“This is where we belong; I can tell you that a lot has happened that has seen me on a number of occasions sidelined all because of this issue of politics and selfishness from that party. they have literally abandoned us the people who voted for them,” said Mrs Nyoni.
The co-ordinator said they had committed themselves to work for Zanu-PF and ensure that in the coming elections they regain the seats they lost to the MDC-T.
Addressing the crowd, Dr Mpofu, who is also the party’s secretary for economic affairs, said he was happy by the courage that had been shown by the group and added that the time had come for people to realise the mistake they made by voting for the MDC-T which he said was not even bringing development to the area.
“I am not here to campaign to represent you in the coming election because I am confident that if I did I would win anyway but I came to open your eyes to the truth and realise what is happening here.
“This area has been underdeveloped since the year 2000 when you voted for the MDC-T. there are no roads even the buses have abandoned the route. this is because you voted for an MP who represents a party that has Western interests at heart. do you people really want to sell this nation back to Britain,” said Dr Mpofu.
He  took a swipe at people who said Zanu-PF had since gaining independence failed the nation by not bring any form of development to the country saying this was a baseless argument with no bearing at all.
“Honestly who built all these secondary schools in the country. when we gained independence we didn’t have a single secondary school and it is Zanu-PF that came and built all these secondary schools.
“Right now I can tell you that as MPs we get a lot of money, cars and the Constituency Development Fund that is meant for developing your area but does any one of you people know what that fund was used for because as far as I know there was not even one meeting called to discuss this,” said the minister.
Dr Mpofu also said that as a party they would not accept any imposition of candidates for the coming elections, adding that anyone who wanted to represent the party must be active and subject to election by the people.
“We have said that this time around we will not accept the past tendency where leaders would come to the people and tell them who was going to represent them. we want you to elect your own representatives therefore if anyone is interested they should simply join the party and be very active in party business,” he said.
On the issue of the disbandment of District Co-ordination Committees Minister Mpofu said this was simply a party decision based on the realisation that in some provinces there were now causing confusion within the structures but this was not to be viewed as if the former DCC members had committed any crimes.
“These people did not do any crime at all as is portrayed in some sections of the media. we will continue doing our party business as we see best and won’t listen to anyone who doesn’t even know the party,” he said.
He also refuted claims that the mobilisation task forces that were formed after the DCC were disbanded, adding that everyone in the party was had a role to work to mobilise more people to join the party.
Meanwhile Dr Mpofu donated 30 tonnes of maize to the area as a response to fears of a impending drought in the Matabeleland region.
“The last time I came here you complained of hunger and since this is the place I was born, I decided to donate this maize as a thank you token for raising me to the man I am today besides our elders tell us that no matter how successful or big you get never forget your home,” said Dr Mpofu.
Also present at the rally where Zanu-PF central committee members Cde Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu, who is Dr Mpofu’s wife, Cde Fathi Mpofu, Cde Bekezela Sibanda and Chief Mvuthu.
More than 3 000 villagers attended the gathering.