MDC Renewal bundles Ncube out of Gwanda

The MDC Renewal Team has literally bundled the Welshman Ncube led MDC out of its once stronghold Matabeleland South capital Gwanda.

The Renewal Team held an overly successful Matabeleland South Provincial Consultative meeting in Gwanda on Sunday where senior members of the Ncube led MDC were paraded as new members of the Renewal Team. Top on the list of members presented to the Renewal Team is former Gwanda Central Member of Parliament Patrick Dube.

Other notable figures from the Ncube led faction that were presented at the meeting are Former Matabeleland South Provincial Chairman Petros Mukwena, Matabeleland South Women's Assembly Chairlady Ms Elizabeth Ndlovu, former Municipality of Gwanda Councillor Themba Nyoni and former Provincial Youth Treasurer Wellington Nare.

The defection of Dube must be a huge blow to the Ncube faction as he was a key person in the running of the party in Gwanda. Mukwena who was unceremoniously dismissed from the party shortly before last year's elections draws with him a huge following and respect from the Ncube led party members through out the province. His shift to the Renewal Team could certainly be the final nail on the MDC's coffin in Gwanda.

Speaking in an interview after the meeting one of the members who defected to the Renewal Team attributed their move to quit the Ncube MDC to undemocratic tendencies in the party.

"We had no alternative but to leave the MDC because of some very undemocratic elements surrounding Welshman Ncube. You can't be expected to work with people who know it all and never listen to their members on the ground," said the member.

"I can officially declare to you that there is no more MDC Ncube in Gwanda except for one or two members who we all know must remain singing for their lunch from Welshman and PT (presume Paul Temba Nyathi party Treasurer)."

Speaking at the meeting, Interim Renewal Team National Chairman, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo said that his team was more than happy to receive members from the Ncube faction and any other party willing to work with them.

"We are never going to buy members to our party like Tsvangirai did in Botswana buying MPs. We let people come to us freely and welcome them as true comrades of the struggle," he said.

"As we go for negotiations for a coalition, everyone must bring their members and Ncube will not bring you as his members," added Sipepa Nkomo.

About 300 people from around Matabeleland South district attended the meeting as delegates. About 75% of those in attendance were from the Welshman Ncube led MDC.