Tendai Biti lose 200 supported to Tsvangirai

NEARLY 200 MDC-T supporters in Cowdray Park and Luveve suburbs who defected to Tendai Biti's MDC Renewal party before deciding to re-join the main opposition party are finding it difficult to be accommodated in their preferred political home.

The disgruntled supporters gathered at a school in Cowdray Park suburb yesterday and to their disappointment, the MDC-T Cowdray Park district chairperson Percy Mcijo did not turn up for a meeting aimed at discussing their fate.

Cowdray Park councillor for ward 28 Colet Ndlovu told the opposition members that the meeting would be rescheduled. "We must unite and reschedule this meeting so we allow our leadership to meet and map a way forward on how our members can be incorporated in the structures. We need to stop fighting and work together to ensure people's needs are met," said Clr Ndlovu.

A member who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was disappointed by Mcijo's behaviour. "I decided to leave this party and join the other faction and because of my influence I managed to convince some of the youths to join me. We've however decided to re-join MDC-T with the hope that things were better this side but to our disappointment, Mcijo is refusing to accept and incorporate us into the system," he said.

"We were told there is a meeting and Mcijo kept us waiting for hours and we were later told he was no longer coming. It's so sad to see leaders failing to embrace the same people they need for votes and support."

MDC-T provincial spokesperson Mandla Sibanda said communication breakdown must have caused the confusion. "We're always happy to welcome and accept everyone who comes to our party," said Sibanda.

"I haven't received any report to that effect and as a province we'll ensure that those members rejoin the party," The MDC Renewal team was renamed the People's Democratic Party last year at its inaugural congress and Biti was confirmed its leader.