People First in shambles

TellZim Reporters

Masvingo – The Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF)’s Masvingo structures are reported to be in shambles with almost all former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) Members of Parliament (MPs) planning to retrace their footsteps back to Morgan Tsvangirai citing an array of irregularities in the Dr Joice Mujuru led party.

Former MPs Enerst Mudavanhu, Jeffryson Chitando, Heya Shoko, Oliver Chirume, Ransome Makamure and others like Dr William Zivenge are said to be planning to dump People First party for MDC-T.
Sources hinted that former Zanu PF legislator for Chivi South Irvene Dzingirai is also planning to go with his new colleagues to MDC-T.
“The guys are frustrated by factionalism…they were not prepared and used to it. They tried hard to work for People First but the party is proving to be more of another Zanu PF with people like Makova frustrating everybody. Another thing that has irked these guys is the delay in holding a party congress, it has taken long and they do not want to be surprised by the congress outcome when there will be no time to prepare for elections,” said the source.
 Other former MDC-T heavy weights who had stood with Tendai Biti’s People Democratic Party (PDP) are also planning to re-join the MDC-T with former Masvingo Urban MP Tongai Matutu saying he was engaged in interesting discussions that might see him going back to his political home – MDC-T.
Matutu said it was high time that all former MPs in ZimPF must think twice and consider going back to Tsvangirai where they would meet and work together once again.
“I am in deep interesting discussions with my colleagues who went to People First – they are telling me that they are now fed up with factions and infighting which has faced the Joice Mujuru led party and my advice has been consistent …I tell them to be realistic and go back to MDC-T . I am also thinking twice, my brothers, sisters and mothers in MDC-T are coming to me every day, they want me to go back to MDC-T. As we speak, today (Monday) some councillors came to me as they pleaded with me to go back to my home and my message is clear, I am ready to go to my home where I can work freely,” said Matutu.
Although Matutu is still with PDP, TellZim News gathered that MDC-T activists in Masvingo are already relying on Matutu for both legal and financial assistance.
“Yes I am helping them every day. What do you want me to do…I can’t thank them enough for the support they gave me thus why I am giving them both financial and legal assistance whenever they come to me and I am ready to re-join MDC-T once we finalise on the current on-going discussions,” added Matutu.
However, Matutu said he was no longer interested in campaigning for a parliamentary seat.
“I will go back provided I will not be forced to stand as MDC-T candidate…its time I should support others and this is the same message that I am telling my friends in People First…. I am telling them that we have been MPs before and now it’s time we support others. We have to work for the party that we understand better,” said Matutu.
However, Chitando laughed off the allegations saying he was not planning to go anywhere.
“I am not going anywhere… however, we are building bridges with others,” said Chitando.
Asked to further explain what he meant by building bridges, Chitando said he was ready to work with any party which is not Zanu PF.
Shoko and Mudavanhu could not be reached for a comment.
Sources in MDC-T said they were excited about the news that their former provincial leaders were planning a comeback.
“Everyone is feeling the gap which they left…to tell you the truth, those guys were true fighters and MDC-T is poorer without them. Our current provincial leaders are based in Harare and we have a serious crisis at the moment,” said the sources.news