In a move that has sent ripples through the political landscape of Epworth, Nancy Mafudza Mhetu, wife of CCC Member of Parliament for Epworth North Zivai Mhetu, has officially crossed the floor to join the ruling ZANU PF party.
Mrs. Mhetu characterized her defection as a return to her roots and a pragmatic response to the current administration’s trajectory.
Progress Over Opposition
Detailing her motivations, Mrs. Mhetu explained that her decision was sparked by observing the government’s developmental initiatives. She argued that maintaining an opposition stance is counterproductive when the country is visibly advancing.
“I decided to join ZANU PF after seeing the positive impact of government-led programs,” she stated. “Every Zimbabwean wants to see progress. There is no value in staying in the opposition while the nation makes real economic strides.”
She emphasized that active participation in citizen empowerment programs is, in her view, far more meaningful than traditional opposition politics.
A House Divided?
The defection raises inevitable questions about the domestic dynamic in the Mhetu household, given her husband’s prominent role in the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). However, Mrs. Mhetu dismissed concerns regarding marital friction, citing the strength of democratic choice.
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A Personal Right: She insisted that her political affiliation is an individual right, independent of her husband’s career.
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The Homecoming: “I grew up in a ZANU PF family; I am simply coming back home,” she remarked.
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Future Persuasion: Far from being worried about the split, she expressed hope that her husband might eventually follow her lead, stating she intends to encourage him to reconsider his allegiance to the opposition.
The Recruitment Drive
Mrs. Mhetu credited Cde Taurai Kandishaya, the ZANU PF Youth League’s Deputy Secretary for the Commissariat, as the driving force behind her recruitment.
Kandishaya welcomed the move, reinforcing the party’s narrative that ZANU PF is a “people-centered movement” focused on unity and national development. He suggested that the party’s doors remain open to those who wish to contribute to the country’s progress.