CCC in Matabeleland South Province has accused ZANU PF of staging defections after the ruling party on Friday paraded 30 people it said had defected from the Nelson Chamisa-led party.
State media reported that ZANU PF leadership in Matabeleland South Province had welcomed more than 30 defectors from CCC in Gwanda who said they were charmed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s developmental agenda.
Speaking to NewsDay on Monday, CCC chairperson for Matabeleland South Solani Moyo said the alleged defectors were never members of the opposition party. Said Moyo:
The reports are a surprise to me. We do not know those people who were paraded. We have no members who have defected to ZANU PF.
I have checked with our structures in Gwanda and they are saying they do not know those people. The whole thing is a lie, and the truth is people are tired of ZANU PF.
Moyo expressed confidence CCC will win all the wards up for grabs in September 3 by-elections. These include wards 1, 14 and 16.
Meanwhile, one of the alleged defectors, Precious Nhliziyo, said they were coming back “home” to ZANU PF having been “lost” in CCC.
More: NewsDay