Source: Chamisa’s party postpones Harare, Chitungwiza primaries – DailyNews Live
Blessings Mashaya 22 May 2018
HARARE – The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has postponed primary elections in
Harare and Chitungwiza provinces to this coming weekend ostensibly to
allow formally employed people to vote.
MDC national chairperson Morgen Komichi claimed yesterday that most people
in Harare and in the nearly dormitory city of Chitungwiza go to work and,
therefore, it would be unfair to conduct polls when they are busy at work.
He said: “Primary elections for Harare and Chitungwiza will be held this
coming weekend, as you know that most of the people in these two provinces
go to work and we want to allow everyone to vote but there are some wards
which voted over the weekend”.
Observers, however, say the move was aimed at quelling tempers and dealing
with logistical nightmares encountered by the party over the weekend.
Out of the party’s 12 provinces, the MDC has completed primary elections
in eight provinces and is only left with four, namely: Manicaland,
Masvingo, Harare and Chitungwiza.
In 72 constituencies out of the 120 where the MDC will field prospective
lawmakers, candidates were selected through consensus.
Primary elections are being held in the remaining 48 constituencies.
The other constituencies have been reserved for the other partners in the
MDC Alliance.
“…we are happy that the elections are progressing on well,” Komichi told
the Daily News.
Asked about the incidences of violence witnessed in various constituencies
around the country, the MDC national chairperson said those found guilty
of sponsoring mayhem would be disqualified.
“We heard some few cases but we are managing it; we don’t encourage
violence, we are going to disqualify anyone found guilty of sponsoring
violence. We want to stop this behaviour,” he said.
On Saturday, the party held elections in Bulawayo province, where four
constituencies out of a possible 12 were hived-off to the other alliance
partners, leaving it with eight. In Bulawayo Central, for example, Nicky
Brown was confirmed by consensus to represent the MDC.
The sitting Member of Parliament for the area, Dorcas Sibanda, went
through as the party’s proportional representative MP.
In Njube, Gift Banda won the consensus vote, and so did James Sithole
(Makokoba), Jack Banda (Luveve) and Kunashe Muchemwa (Bulawayo South).
Thabitha Khumalo, the sitting MP for Bulawayo East and acting MDC
spokesperson, did not seek re-election after going through as a
proportional representative MP.
Elections were, however, held for Magwegwe, Entumbane and Mpopoma.
Voting in these elections started around midday, without incident.
In Matabeleland South Province, the elections were held on Friday. Out of
a total of 13 constituencies in Matabeleland South, six were to MDC
Alliance partners, leaving Nelson Chamisa’s MDC-T party with seven.
Primary elections were held in only two constituencies, Umzingwane and
Insiza North, which were won by Khumbulani Moyo and David Masuku,
respectively.
In the other five constituencies, the candidates were selected through
consensus.
The party will be represented in Bulilima East, Mangwe, Matobo South,
Matobo North and Gwanda South by Solani Moyo, Vincent Sihlabo, Zanele
Dube, Amos Ndlovu and Akim Moyo, respectively.
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