Mzwanele Manyi is ready to poach Phumzile Van Damme from the DA

The head of policy and strategy of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) has extended an invitation to DA MP and shadow minister of communications to join his new political home.

I must admit, I like the 2019 version of @zilevandamme
Should they want to send you to Havard, come to ATM , the party of the woke.

— Mzwanele Manyi (@MzwaneleManyi) February 4, 2019

This after Van Damme publicly engaged her fellow DA members in a debate over Helen Zille’s proposed tax revolt.

Dear @helenzille, I suspected you’d write a column & was expecting you’d provide some clarity on the valid questions I & many others asked. You have not. I also find it odd that nowhere in your column do you encourage people to use the power of their vote to bring about change. https://t.co/R09S2qNokY

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) February 4, 2019

In the spirit of healthy debate, it is a pity that it has to happen on Twitter as you did not provide us an opportunity as the party to which you belong & serve as a Premier, to debate your proposal, please answer my questions.

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) February 4, 2019

Former DA policy head Gwen Ngwenya also weighed in on the debate, prompting Van Damme to question Ngwenya’s assertions.

How interesting. You pride yourself on standing firm on principles. You constantly tell us how policy must fact-based (and principled!), so I hope given all you are, you can provide some facts to a few simple questions about this idea. Here’wa: https://t.co/SGLf0AIX3e https://t.co/UP1vUXZZsH

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) February 4, 2019

Ngwenya chose not to respond directly to Van Damme and instead opted to subtweet her by responding to another Twitter user.

True. So many cannot read for comprehension. It’s actually bewildering. I have not articulated a position on a tax revolt. It’s risky, it’s interesting. I like to take my time and read. But I do understand the parameters of the debate which I felt important to reiterate. https://t.co/hrrU8OsBJ6

— Gwen Ngwenya (@GwenNgwenya) February 4, 2019

And it was this very display that prompted Manyi to extend an invitation to join the ATM to Van Damme, which many on social media dismissed as the height of optimism.

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(Compiled by Kaunda Selisho)

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