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By Margaret Kamba<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The biblical analogy of Saul later known as Apostle Paul was what caught my attention when I spoke with Cde Blessing Chebundo when he recently visited the ZANU PF Headquarters. His description of how Saul had gone about persecuting the Christians due to his lack of knowledge was what he clearly pictured for himself. He did not mince his words about how he had been misinformed and had now seen the light and made a vow to support the New Dispensation and its endeavors to alleviate the plight of the Zimbabwean people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We do all know that when the prodigal son returned home, it was the President and First Secretary of the Party Cde E.D Mnangagwa who welcomed him with open arms. The President\u2019s thrust of unity, peace and development is clear and that of letting bygones be bygones inevitable. With these leadership qualities, it would be foolhardy for anyone on the other side to let this opportunity pass him or her by especially when the fundamentals of their existence are for the good of one\u2019s nation and people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I accidentally met Cde Chebundo at the office and me being me and knowing the reasons behind my employment, assisted him. It was during that time that a thought struck me to request for an interview and get into the thoughts of a man who had left the Party and then returned especially also knowing that it was in this man\u2019s Trade Union office at Saint Andrews House that the MDC was pioneered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was literally some of the brains behind the formation of an opposition political party that has not only called for the untold suffering of every Zimbabwean whose lives have been altered one way or the other. It is undeniable that when we compare our achievements way before the illegally imposed sanctions and now, there is a remarkable difference that seemingly involuntarily gets each of us curse not only the day we were born but what we have become as we hustle day in and day out to make ends meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here with me, is a man who for years after the fall out between Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions ZCTU and Government worked hard in his \u2018enlightenment\u2019 then and informed by the reasons behind his active involvement in the formation of the MDC, I wonder what went through his mind to solicit this change in heart and swallow his pride to come back to ZANU PF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my interaction with him, I did not mince my words because I wanted to know about his journey in the Party so far and know if there were any hurdles he was facing. Many would want him to prove himself I am sure and could be scared that he has come to take their positions within the Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the political environment, you expect some challenges to happen because any form of political arrangement is a contestation worse if you are coming from somewhere even worse for us who are coming from a major opposition political party. I held a high ranking in the opposition which is like the Politburo of that party and this may pose a challenge especially having been welcomed by the top leadership of ZANU PF,\u201d Cde Chebundo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut me as a subject of the issue, I tell the reason why I came to ZANU PF. It is not about seeking comfort or party position. There must be something good I have seen. We have moved a long path over disagreements over our political parties. But with the coming in of the New Dispensation, we began to see some similar policies as those we advocated for at formation of MDC. It was then that, in 2017, the late MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai asked us to support it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe live only but once and there is only one God given Zimbabwe so do we wait for people to advocate for dialogue and give up a chance to contribute to the development of the country? The developments occurring are a testification of how things are different now. When you build your future, you look at your past and present and build your future basing on those past experiences. Under the new leadership, I understand the environment and that I need to respect President Cde Mnangagwa for development to occur.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On asked to give advice to those who may want to rejoin or join the Party, Cde Chebundo disclosed that a lot of people across the country were crossing the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople are joining ZANU PF because when people have viewed you as a stalwart of MDC, an icon and an inspirational figure, they want to know why I made the decision to join ZANU PF. We are inundated by invitations from former colleagues asking us to share the reasons why I moved to ZANU PF. These invitations are not only from Kwekwe and whole of Midlands but Harare, Masvingo, as well as many other places. During these meetings, I ask people to seriously introspect then come so that they are shown the way and they do so in their different ranks and do so publicly. They carry their influence into the Party as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is lacking in the MDC he says is the guidance as that provided for by the Chitepo School of Ideology. Chitepo School of Ideology teaches a lot about the values of the country. It is something that is lacking in the opposition political parties. You cannot talk about Zimbabwe without taking about the First Chimurenga. You cannot talk about the issue of land without appreciating how many people sacrificed their lives living and dead. You cannot talk about the country without knowing about the African religion and our culture because without these it is like a tree without roots. Chitepo School of Ideology taught us these valuable things.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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