…opposition leaders scramble to get positions in People First
TellZim Reporter
Former Vice President and now People First leader Joice Mujuru who was supposed to hold a secret meeting with her top allies in Masvingo had to suddenly cancel the crucial briefing last week after it was realised that the planned meeting clashed with the First Lady Grace Mugabe’s Gutu visit, TellZim News has learnt.
Impeccable sources in the People First structures revealed that the organising committee in Masvingo had arranged a meeting which was going to see senior members from Tendai Biti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) being introduced to Mujuru.
Some of the former MDC MPs who are now in the PDP leadership (names supplied) were expected to pledge their support to Mujuru last Friday.
Over 100 position holders were expected to attend the secret meeting.
Although the People First provincial spokesperson Kudzai Mbudzi downplayed the issue of Mujuru’s secret visit, TellZim News understands that the Masvingo meeting was going to see members openly telling Mujuru – who they already call Mother Zimbabwe, that it was time they launched a political party with February 2016 being the latest time for the launch.
Some members were of the opinion that the party should be launched just before Christmas.
Joice Mujuru
“We wanted to tell Mujuru that we want the party to be launched before Christmas – we want an early Christmas present for Zimbabweans who have been patiently waiting for a change,” said a member who was supposed to attend the secret meeting.
Mbudzi requested for written questions from this publication but did not come back with responses by the time of going to press but he hinted that top MDC-T and PDP members had already joined People First.
“Well, I want to give you detailed responses therefore I request you to put your questions in writing. I can however confirm that people are flocking to our party especially former MPs from all political parties,” said Mbudzi.
Investigations by this publication reveal that around half of former MPs who are in PDP leadership have since joined People First.
One of the former MPs who refused to be named confirmed that he had since crossed the floor.
“The Masvingo meeting was going to be my second meeting with Mujuru. I have discovered that she (Mujuru) is very popular with the ordinary people and I have since decided to join her. It is premature to mention my name now because the party is not yet launched but I assure you that once the party is launched, we will all flock to People First,” said the former MP.
TellZim News could not establish the exact date that Mujuru will meet her supporters in Masvingo.
