MDC scoffs at Mzila resignation

THE MDC yesterday dismissed as a non-event, the resignation of its former acting secretary general Moses Mzila-Ndlovu and 64 other members who announced their exit from the troubled party at the weekend.

Mzila-Ndlovu told a press conference in Bulawayo on Saturday that he and 64 members had quit the Professor Welshman Ncube-led party over irreconcilable differences.

However, the party's national spokesperson, Kurauone Chiwayi, yesterday said the MDC was not moved by Mzila-Ndlovu's departure describing him as a "delusional attention seeker."

"Mzila has been quitting the MDC on quarterly basis. This is the third time Mzila has quit the party. The 64 people he claims quit the MDC did so last year and they keep quitting. The MDC will never be disturbed by the sounds of a hungry baboon in the mountain. Mzila will only be followed by mentally sick individuals," said Chihwayi.

He described Mzila-Ndlovu and his "clique" as a group of "regionalists" who want to tarnish the image of the MDC. Chihwayi said Mzila-Ndlovu has only been quitting the party in the media without tendering his resignation to the relevant structures.

He said the MDC was on a mobilisation drive to worry about those leaving the party. "The MDC is too strong to be shaken by these individuals calling themselves a movement in waiting. They're too small to divide, weaken or affect the MDC machine. We are the party for today and tomorrow. We're at our strongest point and any attempt to discredit Professor Ncube will never work," Chihwayi said.

"The MDC was not formed to oppose or zip those off the pitch. Our eyes are on the ball not on a group of deserters. We are not concerned with their vomit because we are too busy to concentrate on people who have a penchant for political power not a desire to engage others in good faith."

Mzila Ndlovu fell out of favour with the party leadership last year when he was demoted from acting secretary general to an ordinary party member on allegations of gross incompetence and failure to carry out duties.

He had taken over from his former boss Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga who resigned from the position at the height of internal fighting. Mzila-Ndlovu accused Prof Ncube of sabotaging him. Prof Ncube, however, dismissed Mzila-Ndlovu's claims calling him a regionalist who does not want the party to have a national outlook.

Mzila-Ndlovu was later suspended for allegedly petitioning Prof Ncube to step down from the party presidency.