News / National
Chamisa says poverty tears opposition parties
18 Aug 2021 at 01:56hrs | Views
MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has blamed defections from his party by MPs and councillors to poverty.
Some MDC Alliance members have defected to either the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora to avoid recalls, while others have rushed for carrots dangled by the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Chamisa said this yesterday during a social media discussion with One South Africa (OSA) leader and former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Musi Maimane on Twitter.
He said it was sad that some leaders in his party had dumped the democratic struggle to join Zanu-PF and the MDC-T in search of wealth. He said poverty had a negative effect on opposition political leaders.
"They (defectors) dump the people's needs for cars and personal gain. I am, however, glad that most of the leaders around me are solid and committed to the cause of the people," Chamisa tweeted.
Since last year, the MDC Alliance suffered a major blow when Mwonzora recalled more than 40 MPs and 80 councillors aligned to Chamisa despite that some of them were elected representatives.
Those that feared being recalled quickly aligned themselves to the MDC-T, while others that were recalled like former Midlands senator Lillian Timveous, who was also former MDC Alliance deputy treasurer joined Zanu-PF. Timveous has since been rewarded with a plum position on the PetroTrade board.
"We must be in government to serve, not be served, we must be in government to give, not to take," Chamisa said.
Later, Chamisa told NewsDay that it was imperative for political parties to choose their leaders wisely and select those committed to the party from the grassroots.
"When one takes a leadership role, they are not doing it for themselves. Therefore, they must be able to stand for the will of those they lead regardless of their own interests. Those who want money, cars and profits must join private companies or venture into business politics. It is about the people and sacrifice," he said.
Two weeks ago, President Emmerson Mnangagwa doled out all-terrain vehicles to losers in the 2018 presidential election under his Political Actors Dialogue. Several former MDC Alliance members, including James Maridadi and Obert Gutu, have also been rewarded with top government posts.
Some MDC Alliance members have defected to either the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora to avoid recalls, while others have rushed for carrots dangled by the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Chamisa said this yesterday during a social media discussion with One South Africa (OSA) leader and former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Musi Maimane on Twitter.
He said it was sad that some leaders in his party had dumped the democratic struggle to join Zanu-PF and the MDC-T in search of wealth. He said poverty had a negative effect on opposition political leaders.
"They (defectors) dump the people's needs for cars and personal gain. I am, however, glad that most of the leaders around me are solid and committed to the cause of the people," Chamisa tweeted.
Those that feared being recalled quickly aligned themselves to the MDC-T, while others that were recalled like former Midlands senator Lillian Timveous, who was also former MDC Alliance deputy treasurer joined Zanu-PF. Timveous has since been rewarded with a plum position on the PetroTrade board.
"We must be in government to serve, not be served, we must be in government to give, not to take," Chamisa said.
Later, Chamisa told NewsDay that it was imperative for political parties to choose their leaders wisely and select those committed to the party from the grassroots.
"When one takes a leadership role, they are not doing it for themselves. Therefore, they must be able to stand for the will of those they lead regardless of their own interests. Those who want money, cars and profits must join private companies or venture into business politics. It is about the people and sacrifice," he said.
Two weeks ago, President Emmerson Mnangagwa doled out all-terrain vehicles to losers in the 2018 presidential election under his Political Actors Dialogue. Several former MDC Alliance members, including James Maridadi and Obert Gutu, have also been rewarded with top government posts.
Source - newsday
