Former Zanu PF MP defects to People First

via Former Zanu PF MP defects to People First – NewsDay Zimbabwe January 20, 2016

Former Zanu PF Chivi South legislator, Irvene Dzingirai, has defected to ousted Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s People First (PF) movement, as the ruling party offshoot lays more groundwork for an expected launch.

By Tatenda Chitagu

Dzingirai, who was defeated in the Zanu PF primaries by Charles Utete, attended the PF meeting held last weekend in Masvingo, where he posed for a group picture after the meeting.

He confirmed his latest political move, saying Zanu PF has reneged on its promises to the masses.

“It is true, I am now with PF,” Dzingirai declared. “I left Zanu PF because it has drifted away from the liberation war promises. People are suffering, party members are being axed for no reason, and the government is failing to pay salaries. Is that the reason why people went to war?”

Zanu PF provincial chairman Ezra Chadzamira could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Dzingirai last year blasted President Robert Mugabe for appointing a bloated Cabinet at a time Treasury coffers were dry.

Asked if it was not a case of sour grapes now that he was out of Parliament, the former legislator said he was being pragmatic.

“I am not saying this because I am out of the government. I was not a minister, but I am reacting to the economic realities of the day,” he said.
“I did not say it during my tenure because things were a bit stable and the economy was performing. The big Cabinet can be restored if things normalise, but not now.”

Surprisingly, Zanu PF did not take action against him after his criticism, as the party has a reputation of not brooking any censure.