Losing MDC- T candidate to contest as independent

Midlands Bureau      
AN MDC-T aspiring candidate for Chiwundura Constituency in Gweru district, Mr Desmond Ngwegwe, has questioned his party’s democratic credentials following the chaotic manner in which it conducted the primary elections for the constituency. In an interview on Monday, Mr Ngwegwe said he has lost confidence in the way the party conducted its primary elections and now wanted to contest the Chiwundura parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.

He said he stood no chance of winning the primary election under the MDC-T ticket owing to confusion and alleged vote-buying.
Mr Ngwegwe said MDC-T was taking time to announce the dates for a re-run in the constituency, hence his decision to stand as an independent.

“I have decided to contest the Chiwundura constituency as an independent candidate because the party’s national executive seems to be dragging its feet in ordering a re-run of the primary elections in the constituency.

“We raised our complaints regarding the issue of vote buying and that the other candidate, Mr Timothy Mukhahlera bussed people to the voting centres but it seems no one is taking our word. The elections were not free and fair and this is the reason why they were not concluded,” he said.

Chiwundura constituency primary elections were abandoned about two weeks ago after violence broke out with some youths accusing Mr Mukhahlera, a prominent Gweru businessman and former Member of Parliament for Gweru urban, of vote buying.

Mr Mukhahlera had 460 votes while Mr Ngwegwe had only 50 votes when the primary elections were abandoned.
Mr Ngwegwe said MDC-T failed to conduct free and fair elections in all the areas where primary elections were held due to vote buying and violence.

He said a party that failed to hold free and fair elections could not claim to be democratic.
“The whole election process was a shame. People were being bussed and there was a lot of vote buying. Surprisingly, the party leadership allowed the elections to continue.

“Most of the people who were elected to represent the party in the primary elections were as a result not the right people.
“The MDC-T should reverse the whole process and come up with strict rules and guidelines before the holding of harmonised elections,” he said.
Mr Ngwegwe said MDC-T would lose the harmonised elections if it fails to put its house in order.

MDC-T Midlands province’s director of elections Mr Obert Tachi Ncube said the party would conduct elections for Chiwundura constituency only in areas where the elections could not be concluded.

“At the moment, there is no one representing the party in Chiwundura constituency until the election is concluded in all the remaining wards. It will be immature for people to rush and announce positions before the elections in that constituency are finalised,” he said.