Mutambara joins the State House race

THE Deputy Prime minister of Zimbabwe, Professor Arthur Oliver Guseni Mutambara, who was yesterday barred by the High Court from representing MDC as its leader will take part in the next general and presidential elections, Daily News reported on Friday.

"We are doing gap-filling in provinces and as soon as we are complete, we hold our congress and prepare for the next elections. We are serious, we have MPs and Senators and structures from the provinces and will definitely take part in the next general and presidential elections," said Robson Mashiri, the MDC national organising secretary.

According to the Daily News, Mashiri was armed with a form signed by legislators from the Ncube camp who have pledged their allegiance to Mutambara.

These include, Nomalanga Khumalo (MP), Thandeko Mnkakanhla (MP), Dube Maxwell (MP), Kembo Dube (Senator) and Dalumuzi Khumalo (Senator).

Khumalo is now the Deputy President in Mutambara's party after she was fired by Welshman Ncube for being too close the robotics scientist's party.

"We the undersigned legislators in the Parliament of Zimbabwe, having noted the recent developments on the above matter, do hereby reaffirm and pledge our loyalty and support to the MDC-M party," read part of the pledge form signed by the legislators.

Mashiri said they are still negotiating with the other eight legislators who still remain in Ncube's party.

Meanwhile, MDC-M spokesperson Morgan Changamire said Mutambara will not be affected by yesterday's court ruling barring him from acting as president of the smaller MDC party.

"Mutambara will remain the Deputy Prime Minister and a principal in the coalition government and we will go ahead with our plans to participate in the coming elections," Changamire said.

He said they are still waiting for a court judgment in the case in which Mutambara challenged the election of Ncube as president of the party.