admin
The money is supposed to be deposited into the MDC-T party account and the candidates then attach the bank deposit slip to their nomination papers.
In separate interviews, aspiring MPs and councillors said the move by the party was a gimmick to try and screen some members who were keen to contest in the primary elections.
“We are informed that provinces have received a circular from the party headquarters in Harare stating that aspiring MPs and councillors should pay $180 and $35 respectively. Some of us had already filed our nomination papers with the provincial office only to receive calls advising us that we should collect our papers so that we can attach the deposit slips as proof of payment of the required money. We are failing to get the logic behind all this,” said an aspiring MP.
Another aspiring MP said he had already paid the money but complained that the $180 was too high.
“There is a lot of interest this time with hundreds of people filing papers to contest. I think the move is a strategy to screen candidates but some of us are so determined and I have since paid the required $180,” he said.
An aspiring councillor said the party was trying to fund-raise by making them pay for contesting the primaries.
“I have been a councillor since the formation of the MDC-T party but have never been asked to pay money to contest elections,” he said.
Contacted for comment, party national organising secretary, Mr Nelson Chamisa, down- played the move and said there was some communication breakdown, which resulted in provinces instructing aspiring candidates to pay some money.
“That is not the party position (for aspiring party members to pay a fee). There is nothing like that, there was just some communication breakdown and the correct position is that aspiring candidates need not to pay. What they only need to do is to make sure that they are fully paid up members,” said Mr Chamisa.
He said MDC-T was a people driven party and there was no reason for the people to pay for contesting party positions.
“We are a poor and labour driven party and those who want to contest positions need not pay for that. We are actually happy that people are filing their nomination papers in numbers and they seem to be appreciating our transparent manner in which everyone is being accorded the opportunity to contest in the primaries,” he said.
Online Reporter