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NewsDay

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Zanu PF parades MDC defectors

Politics
ZANU PF on Friday paraded three MDC councillors from Nkayi who joined it a fortnight ago at the Joshua Mqabuko International Airport

ZANU PF on Friday paraded three MDC councillors from Nkayi who joined it a fortnight ago at the Joshua Mqabuko International Airport where President Robert Mugabe was welcoming Malawian President Joyce Banda.

Report by Nduduzo Tshuma

Banda was in Bulawayo to officially open the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

The three councillors — Jabulani Manqonda Ncube (Ward 16), Lewis Moyo (Ward 27) and Collet Dube (Ward 15) — were first paraded at a Zanu PF rally in Nkayi early this month.

They were brought to the airport by Zanu PF Matabeleland North provincial chairman Richard Moyo who introduced them to the party’s senior members.

Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu introduced the trio to fellow politburo members that included Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo and his Agriculture counterpart Joseph Made as well as Matabeleland North governor Thokozile Mathuthu.

Chombo praised the councillors for jumping ship, saying Zanu PF’s erstwhile political enemies were now seeking to befriend the party.

“What you did was good. The timing was also good because some of these countries that used to support our opposition now want to work with Zanu PF,” he said.

The councillors were all clad in khaki shirts with Mugabe’s signature inscribed on them.

It was also revealed that the defectors had been bought motorcycles by Zanu PF to campaign for the party ahead of the forthcoming elections.