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Deputy News Editor
Leader of opposition party, LEAD, Ms Linda Masarira says her party has a realistic chance of winning in the March 26 by-elections, although their campaigns have been hampered by funding challenges.
The party is contesting in three National Assembly constituencies and three council seats.
Ms Masarira said they successfully filed nomination papers for Harare Central, Harare East and Epworth constituencies.
The party will also field candidates in Ward 34 Mufakose, Ward 9 in Bulawayo and Ward 7 in Masvingo urban.
In an interview, Ms Masarira said her party’s chances in the by-elections were “50/50 considering the political dynamics in the country”.
Ms Masarira, who is contesting for the Harare Central Constituency, said she has a decent chance of winning the seat, which has been held by the MDC since year 2000.
“The electorate is tired of the same old person who has been the MP since 2003.
“Harare Central Constituency needs a new Leader and if the CCC (Citizens Coalition for Change) factor doesn’t cloud the judgment of the electorate in Harare Central Constituency, my chances (of winning) are very high,” she said.
Marara Henry Chiureki will represent MDC Alliance while Gwinyai Rukanda will run on a MAAT Zimbabwe ticket.
But the LEAD president said the campaign has not been plain sailing due to funding challenges considering they are a self-funding party.
“Financial constraints have limited our campaigns. We have restricted ourselves to door to door campaigns, which are proving to be fruitful,” she said.
Zanu PF will field Cde Loice Magweba who has equally expressed hope of landing the seat.
The MDC-Alliance led by Mr Douglas Mwonzora is also contesting the seat.
Zanu PF has projects that have already been done such as roads, schools and clinics construction across the country.
Further the revolutionary party has begun the Presidential Borehole Drilling programme to ensure all citizens have access to clean water.
The water situation in urban areas, principally Harare, has been affected by incompetence and corruption of successive MDC councillors.
Political analysts say the fact that the ruling Zanu PF is only making promises to deepen the developmental projects it is already implementing, gives it an edge over other parties, mainly the CCC, which has been promising urban voters of improved service delivery situation 2000, to no avail.
The analysts said if anything, the situation had gone out of hand, until the intervention of President Mnangagwa’s administration to repair roads and source water treatment chemicals.
Online Reporter