'Welshman Ncube's defection almost brought MDC to a halt,' says MDC-T chair

Bulawayo Deputy mayor Gift Banda who was elected as the MDC-T provincial chairperson over the weekend says the only defection that had almost brought the party to a halt was that of 2005, where "men of steel and integrity such as (Welshman) Ncube, (former party president, the late Gibson) Sibanda and the late Fletcher Dulini Ncube left".

Banda said he was not worried with the "fake defections" that saw two legislators Mhlanga and former MDC-T women's assembly chairperson Mathe, and a councillor Sheila Musonda joining the MDC-Renewal team on Monday.

"We would not be bothered by the departure of characters such as Mhlanga," he said.

"He was a destructive element and we knew he was working with the renewal team."

Banda accused Mhlanga of expelling several people from the party and abusing his power and destroying the party's structures.

The incoming chairman challenged Mhlanga to reveal the identity of 500 people whom he claimed had defected with him.

Banda said the only defection that had almost brought the party to a halt was that of 2005, where "men of steel and integrity such as (Welshman) Ncube, (former party president, the late Gibson) Sibanda and the late Fletcher Dulini Ncube left".

Meanwhile, former Bulawayo deputy mayor Amen Mpofu also tendered his resignation from the MDC-T, citing what he termed lack of rule of law within the party.