adminFreedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
MDC-T supporters in Mbizo, Gweru constituency have said they will vote for the zanu-pf candidate if the MDC Alliance insists on imposing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s Mr Settlement Chikwinya as their candidate in the forthcoming harmonised elections.
Mr Chikwinya, together with many MDC-T MPs, was recalled from Parliament in 2015, after they defected to a splinter party led by Mr Tendai Biti.
He has reportedly been earmarked to stand in Mbizo constituency in next month’s harmonised elections under the MDC Alliance banner.
In a letter written to the party’s national executive, the MDC-T structures in Mbizo rejected the candidature of Mr Chikwinya and would instead vote for the zanu-pf candidate, Cde Isheunesu Mupereri.
“We have many reasons as to why we are opposed to the candidature of former Mbizo MP Mr Chikwinya to stand for the for Mbizo constituency in the 2018 harmonised elections,” read the letter.
“He defected from the party and his departure was a violent one. We don’t want imposition of candidates in Mbizo. We want primary elections so that we elect a candidate of our choice.
“We will be forced to vote for MP Mupereri if you deny us our right to have primary elections.”
MDC-T Midlands North provincial spokesman, Mr Sewell Bhebhe, confirmed that there was disgruntlement over the candidature of Mr Chikwinya in Mbizo.
He said as the provincial leadership they were still to receive official communication on whether Mr Chikwinya should be standing in Mbizo.
“What I can confirm is that there is such noise in Mbizo with people saying this and that over the candidature of Mr Chikwinya,” said Mr Bhebhe.
“The official position, however, is that the Mbizo seat was reserved for PDP under the MDC-T Alliance, but we are yet to be given the candidate by the PDP party. It’s still speculation that Mr Chikwinya will stand, so we can’t comment on speculation.”
Mr Chikwinya was not available for a comment.
Online Reporter