Former Gweru MP Mukahlera dumps Mutambara MDC

By Lance Guma
08 September 2008

Former Gweru Urban Member of Parliament Timothy Mukahlera has dumped the Mutambara MDC to rejoin the main party led by Morgan Tsvangirai. Addressing thousands of supporters at the MDC’s 9th anniversary celebrations at Mkoba Stadium, Mukahlera said he was disenchanted by the leadership of the Mutambara faction and had decided ‘to come back home.’ He follows a growing list of prominent officials that includes Lovemore Moyo, Blessing Chebundo, Sam Sipepa Nkomo and Gift Chimanikire among others, who have deserted the party since the acrimonious split in October 2005.

Speaking to Newsreel on Monday party spokesman Nelson Chamisa confirmed he had re-introduced Mukahlera to party supporters on Sunday. “This is a people’s struggle. We need to make sure the revolutionary train has enough space and seats for all democrats,” Chamisa said. Mukahlera remarked in the local shona language, “Chakashata chakashata, ndadzokera kumusangano- What’s bad is bad, I have come back to the party.”

Meanwhile, Newsreel is reliably informed that 2 Mutambara MP’s almost came to blows on an Air Zimbabwe flight to Harare from Bulawayo soon after the vote for the speaker of parliament. Edward Mkhosi (Mangwe) and Siyabonga Malandu Ncube (Insiza South) are said to have exchanged some harsh words in front of other passengers. Mkhosi is alleged to have called Malandu a ‘sellout’ for being loyal to Mutambara, while Malandu accused Mkhosi of being aligned to the Tsvangirai camp. Mkhosi challenged his colleague to instigate a by-election in his constituency ‘if he saw fit.’

The Mutambara MDC reportedly held heated meetings on Saturday and Sunday at the Kadoma Ranch Hotel. Members of the top leadership are said to have demanded an explanation as to why rebels in the party voted for Lovemore Moyo (Tsvangirai MDC) as parliamentary speaker instead of Paul Themba Nyathi their candidate. Any future rebels were threatened with by-elections in their constituencies.