MDC-T to hold primaries for rebel MPs

via MDC-T to hold primaries for rebel MPs. newzimbabwe.com 17 June 2014

THE MDC-T faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai plans to hold primary elections to choose new candidates in constituencies held by legislators backing the renewal team, party spokesman Douglas Mwonzora has revealed.

Mwonzora told Chronicle Monday the opposition was stepping up efforts to get rid of legislators belonging to the faction led by the party’s secretary-general Tendai Biti.

An attempt by to have the legislators recalled from Parliament failed after the Speaker refused to be involved, telling the warring factions to take their fight to the courts.

“As far as we’re concerned the legislators who joined the so-called renewal team do not belong to the MDC-T.  We are therefore planning to hold primary elections to elect new candidates that belong to the party,” said Mwonzora.

“These would not be shadow MPs but real MPs representing the MDC-T. We have already started preparing for the elections and we would soon be having new MPs that belong to the party.”

“As MPs, we’re accountable to the people in our constituencies, including those that did not vote for us, not party members only. We’ll therefore continue with our work,” said the Lobengula legislator.

“Obviously the split has created groups in Parliament. We’re no longer discussing together, which is natural considering what has transpired in the past months. But this does not affect our work.”

Some of the targeted MPs said they would not pay any attention to Mwonzora’s claims.

“We’re no longer caucusing together and we never meet for discussions but this does not affect our work at Parliament.  The fact that we differ in principles and values should not affect our work,” he said.

Mpopoma-Pelandaba legislator Bekithemba Nyathi added: “This is just a political game they’re playing. The fact that I have crossed floor doesn’t mean that I have to be stopped from representing the people that voted for me.