News / Local
'Tsvangirai massive support base, a myth,' says Nkomo
06 Oct 2014 at 15:29hrs | Views
The belief that Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has more numbers than any other opposition political party is a myth says national chairperson of the MDC Renewal Samuel Sipepa Nkomo amid more defections of MDC-T House of Assembly representatives and councillors.
The latest senior members to leave the embattled MDC-T are Pumula Constituency MP Albert Mhlanga who effectively stepped down as the party's provincial organising secretary, Binga MP Prince Sibanda as well as the Woman's Assembly chairperson and MP Gladys Mathe.
About 14 Bulawayo councillors including Ward 8′s Sheila Musonda also have defected from MDC-T to the MDC Renewal team.
Speaking during the parade of the 'new' renewal members in Killarney, Sipepa Nkomo's home, he said going against Morgan Tsvangirai was difficult as there is a feeling or a belief not only in the media but in other circles that he has more followers than any other opposition parties.
"That is a belief that I want to now say is a myth because it is not true, it may have been true a year or two years ago, not it is no longer true.
"The people that were seen at Tsvangirai's rallies were organised by us, if we were able to organise those people we are the same people that can disorganise," said Sipepa.
He said in so far as Bulawayo is concerned, Tsvangirai has lost ground.
"The people of Bulawayo vote as a block and when we tell him that he has lost it he does not believe it, we hope that the people close to him will whisper to him the truth," said Sipepa Nkomo.
He said rejecting Tsvangirai was not about the numbers but upholding the values and principles of the party.
Giving his speech, Mhlanga said it was impossible for any sane individual who experienced the events of the MDC-T provincial congress to ignore the criticisms levelled against his former party.
"The provincial congress confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt that MDC-T does no longer respect the norms and values of its own constitution.
"Members of the Standing Committee particularly Thokozani Khuphe and Abednico Bhebhe behaved like a bunch of petulant school kids, puffing and ranting as they competed in excluding everyone believed to be outside their faction," said Mhlanga.
He said 500 of his former colleagues in the province and districts had directed him to speak on their behalf adding that: "We declare our resignation en masse from MDC-T."
MDC-T spokesperson Mandla Sibanda was not immediately available for a comment as his mobile phone was unreachable.
Senator Sekai Holland was last month officially appointed the MDC renewal team's interim president.
The latest senior members to leave the embattled MDC-T are Pumula Constituency MP Albert Mhlanga who effectively stepped down as the party's provincial organising secretary, Binga MP Prince Sibanda as well as the Woman's Assembly chairperson and MP Gladys Mathe.
About 14 Bulawayo councillors including Ward 8′s Sheila Musonda also have defected from MDC-T to the MDC Renewal team.
Speaking during the parade of the 'new' renewal members in Killarney, Sipepa Nkomo's home, he said going against Morgan Tsvangirai was difficult as there is a feeling or a belief not only in the media but in other circles that he has more followers than any other opposition parties.
"That is a belief that I want to now say is a myth because it is not true, it may have been true a year or two years ago, not it is no longer true.
"The people that were seen at Tsvangirai's rallies were organised by us, if we were able to organise those people we are the same people that can disorganise," said Sipepa.
He said in so far as Bulawayo is concerned, Tsvangirai has lost ground.
"The people of Bulawayo vote as a block and when we tell him that he has lost it he does not believe it, we hope that the people close to him will whisper to him the truth," said Sipepa Nkomo.
He said rejecting Tsvangirai was not about the numbers but upholding the values and principles of the party.
Giving his speech, Mhlanga said it was impossible for any sane individual who experienced the events of the MDC-T provincial congress to ignore the criticisms levelled against his former party.
"The provincial congress confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt that MDC-T does no longer respect the norms and values of its own constitution.
"Members of the Standing Committee particularly Thokozani Khuphe and Abednico Bhebhe behaved like a bunch of petulant school kids, puffing and ranting as they competed in excluding everyone believed to be outside their faction," said Mhlanga.
He said 500 of his former colleagues in the province and districts had directed him to speak on their behalf adding that: "We declare our resignation en masse from MDC-T."
MDC-T spokesperson Mandla Sibanda was not immediately available for a comment as his mobile phone was unreachable.
Senator Sekai Holland was last month officially appointed the MDC renewal team's interim president.
Source - Radio Dialogue
