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Harare Bureau
MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has admitted that the party’s selection of mayoral candidates is tantamount to imposition, but said the party will not entertain any appeals over the matter.
Mr Tsvangirai was speaking at a retreat held at Mandel Training Centre in Harare to review his party’s dismal performance in the harmonised elections on 31 July.
Sources who attended the meeting said Mr Tsvangirai argued that the imposition was justified to avoid divisions in the party.
MDC-T has selected people outside the list of elected councilors to be mayors, with National University of Science and Technology lecturer Mr Mandla Nyathi being the party candidate for mayor in Bulawayo.
Former Justice and Legal Affairs deputy minister Obert Gutu chosen for Harare while party deputy spokesperson for Chitungwiza Mr Isaac Manyemba is set to lead the town.
Despite the imposition the party is expecting its elected councillors to confirm these appointments. Mayors have to be elected by elected councillors sitting at a meeting called for that purpose.
The sources said one of the resolutions at the party retreat held on 27 and 28 August, was to make the country “ungovernable” following its crushing defeat by Zanu-PF.
Mr Tsvangirai managed to garner 33,94 percent of the presidential vote compared to President Mugabe who received 61,09 percent.
Sources who attended the meeting said Mr Tsvangirai questioned the number of people who were assisted to vote and the number of those turned away on the voting day.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said at least 305 000 prospective voters were turned away for various reaons while only 207 000 were assisted to vote.
The figures are not alarming compared to those obtained from the region which show that other countries turn away far more than those in the harmonised elections.
MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the retreat, saying that it was an indoor meeting to map the way forward.
He refused to reveal the party’s strategy which he said would be rolled out soon.
“It was just about the way forward,” he said. “We received a detailed and chilling report from our technical team on how this election was stolen.
“The issue of high number of people who were turned away was discussed, of course, as one of the irregularities of this election.”
Sources said several members of the standing committee, the party’s highest decision making organ outside congress, gave varying assessments that resulted in their defeat.
Sources said MDC-T organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa and the party’s Harare provincial executive member Mr Morgan Femai attributed the party’s dismal performance to complacency and lack of preparedness.
“Mr Chamisa and Mr Femai noted that the party might pay the price for taking its followers for granted through previous unfulfilled election promises, hence the protest vote,” said the source.
Online Reporter