The Welshman Ncube-led MDC has already identified candidates for some House of Assembly constituencies in Matabeleland North province as its steps up preparations for elections President Robert Mugabe wants held this year.
MDC organising secretary Qhubani Moyo confirmed the development.
“I can confirm that some of our liberated provinces have begun to call for the assessment of those who want to contest on the party’s ticket,” he said.
“Matabeleland North, as a liberated zone, is the first such province.
“We have a number of candidates that have shown interest. As per our constitution where there is more than one candidate, we will hold primary elections.
“The party is geared for the elections.
“We have had a headstart because of the fact that we identify with the aspirations of the people. We are confident that we will cruise to victory whenever the elections are held.”
Moyo declined to name some of the candidates, but party sources said Tsholotsho Senator Believe Gaule was eyeing the Tsholotsho North constituency currently held by Zanu PF MP Jonathan Moyo.
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“In Matabeleland North, we have begun to ask for CVs in those constituencies that we have been campaigning in.
“We had a meeting in Lupane sometime last month to discuss the issue of candidates,” an MDC source said. The source said in Hwange West the candidate was likely to be Million Moyo, the former deputy mayor of Victoria Falls.
In Lupane East, where the party fired Njabuliso Mguni, an academic, Bekimpilo Sibanda, who until last year had been a media studies lecturer at Fort Hare University in South Africa, could be the party’s candidate.
In Hwange East, Jealous Sansole, the former MP of the former combined Hwange constituency, is set to contest on the party ticket. In Nkayi South, where the party fired Abedinico Bhebhe, who is now MDC-T’s deputy organising secretary, MDC would likely to field Jabulani Manqonda, a councillor in the Nkayi Rural District Council.
The party plans to field former Mpopoma MP Jeffret Khumalo in Bubi.
In Lupane West, the MDC will bet on Sibangilizwe Msipa, a former senator for Makokoba in Bulawayo.
In Tsholotsho South, where the incumbent Maxwell Dube recently defected to Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara’s faction, the MDC will place its hope on Minutewell Ncube, a businessman in the area.
Ncube is also the former Tsholotsho Rural District Council chief executive officer.
