Welshman Ncube's MDC wakes up from slumber

Welshman Ncube's MDC is waking up from its deep slumber after the devastating July 31 poll defeat, and promises to soldier on with the political struggle for democratic change.

Nhlanhla Dube, the party's spokesperson, said in a statement that his party held a standing committee meeting over the weekend which resolved that Zanu-PF has to be taken head-on.

"The standing committee reaffirmed the party's values and principles, thereby recommitting itself to the continuation of the political struggle in the background of the July 31 election in which Zanu-PF declared itself victorious by hook and crook," Dube said.

Ncube, together with other opposition parties suffered a crushing loss at the hands of president Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF, with Ncube's party failing to garner even a single electoral seat. In the wake of the defeat, several senior members have been quitting, leaving the party heavily exposed.

However, Dube said his party has used the post-election period to introspect.

"The MDC's programme of action post-July 31 election has been one of introspection, reflection and consultation with party structures, members, supporters and stakeholders nationally," he said.

Zanu-PF has so far failed and his party has resolved to confront the former liberation movement, he said.

"The standing committee noted that nine months after the elections, the issues that confront Zimbabwe remain insurmountable," Dube said. "The reality is that the Zanu-PF victory has been a loss to Zimbabwe's economic progress and this is more glaring now than at any other time as the economy continues to deteriorate to the levels of 2008.

"The high levels of corruption, unethical salaries awarded to CEOs of quasi Zanu-PF parastatals, the ever declining work ethic of the spike-throwing ZRP, liquidity crisis, heightened unemployment which have all exacerbated the decline in the quality of life for ordinary Zimbabweans, is a reality which as MDC we will confront with all that we have."

Dube said the smaller MDC party has resolved to fill vacant positions after senior officials such as former director of policy, research and coordination Qhubani Moyo, former director of international relations and external structures Sondon Mugaradziko and national executive members Edward Mkhosi, and Siyabonga Ncube, amongst others, quit.

Sam Mlilo, who was secretary of education now becomes the director of policy, research and coordination.

Former national deputy secretary for information and publicity, Kurauone Chihwayi becomes secretary for international relations and external structures.

Former Gwanda municipality mayor, Lionel De Necker, becomes secretary for local government.