adminThis is despite invitations extended to aspiring candidates to submit their credentials for consideration by election committees by the two MDCs.
The two parties are supposed to hold primary elections to choose candidates for the harmonised general elections to be held sometime this year.
According to insiders in MDC-T some application forms from aspiring candidates have gone missing under mysterious circumstances.
“Some applications went missing at the party’s offices on Monday and some were later found at the back of the offices.
“It seems those in office are avoiding competition from aspiring candidates,” said a source.
The source said some of the prospective candidates whose application forms were later found hidden were Mr Ephraim Sibanda, a youth member and provincial treasurer, Ms Nicole Brown Watson.
The two are reportedly eyeing the Bulawayo Central seat, which is occupied by Ms Dorcas Sibanda.
MDC-T aspiring candidates have also complained that the leaders at district level were refusing to sign their papers to endorse them.
“In our application form there is a clause that requires one to be endorsed by the leadership in one’s respective district. Sadly some are refusing to sign, claiming that they do not know us,” said an aspiring candidate, who preferred anonymity.
He said the refusal was a deliberate move to stop them from contesting in the primary elections.
“This is a serious cause for concern because there are many people that could be blocked from contesting the primaries,” said the aspiring candidate.
Contacted for comment, the MDC-T Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Mr Mandlenkosi Sibanda said they were not aware of such developments.
He said the final day for the submission of application forms was yesterday as the provincial leadership wanted to complete the verification exercise by Friday.
“We have not started the verification exercise. The final day for handing in application forms is today but we are not yet sure when the primary elections will be held,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said individuals were free to contest the primaries.
“The fact that we have opened up the floor shows that the party is democratic. I have not heard about such reports of missing forms, but if it is true then that is discouraged,” Mr Sibanda said.
He said a larger number of applications came from vacant constituencies such as Nketa, Entumbane and Emakhandeni where elected representatives died.
Members from the Professor Ncube-led MDC have also accused provincial leaders tasked with coordinating the restructuring (names supplied) in the province of blocking their candidature.
The party members said they were locked out of the party’s Jason Moyo Street offices, where they were supposed to submit their names for the primaries on Saturday.
“We were surprised when we found the offices locked with provincial leaders nowhere to be seen despite having been invited by them to submit our forms.
“We know that these people have their own people that they want to impose,” said an aspiring candidate.
MDC Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Mr Edwin Ndlovu said the complaints were not genuine saying the nominations were still open.
“The closing date for the submission of the nominations is 14 February at 4pm and for someone to say he is being blocked is a lie,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said he believed that people who made such accusations were not genuine party members.
“If people found our offices closed that does not mean we are blocking them.
“Those who feel they have been left out still have a chance to submit their applications and complaints can come after the verification exercise,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Online Reporter