Staff Reporter

A pro-cessation party, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), is reportedly recruiting members of the MDC Alliance in Bulawayo and other Matebeleland Provinces as it positions itself to control the region ahead of the 2023 plebiscite.

A source privy to the details confided that the MRP had taken advantage of the infighting rocking the MDC Alliance Bulawayo structures to recruit members as it seeks to present itself as a better political alternative to the people of that region.

“The majority of the MDC Alliance members in Bulawayo are sympathisers of the MRP and they are willing to cross over to that party citing continued dominance of party position by the Shona speaking people. The majority of the Ndebele people are of the view that the MDC Alliance segregates them in favour of the Shona speaking people, hence they are contemplating joining the MRP,” said the source.

The source added that the MRP was using people such as the recalled Bulawayo Metropolitan MDC Alliance Senator, Spiwe Ncube and Bulawayo Ward 25 councilor, Mzamo Dube to convince members of that party to support MRP in the next elections as it was the party that represents the interests of the Ndebele speaking people.

“Since her recall from parliament, Ncube does not usually attend party meetings but she only emerges when there are problems within the party. She only attends crisis meetings as she would be pushing the interests of the MRP and most of the times, she would be saying negative words against the MDC Alliance. There are reports that she, together with Mzamo Dube, are going around telling party members that the MDC Alliance was a party for the Shonas, hence they should dump it and join the MRP,” added the source.

The source accused people aligned to MRP for fermenting factionalism and divisions in Bulawayo as they want the MDC Alliance to crumble ahead of the 2023 elections.

Efforts to get a comment from MDC Alliance Bulawayo Provincial spokesperson Swirthern Chiroodza were futile as he was not picking up his phone.