The MDC has urged its inclusive government partners to avoid contesting each other in the forthcoming by-elections for the three Matabeleland seats in line with the provisions of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
MDC secretary for research and policy Qhubani Moyo said they were lobbying MDC-T and Zanu PF not to field any candidates to contest in the constituencies as they were previously held by candidates from the Welshman Ncube-led party.
“The agreement was for one year,” Moyo said.
“It was then extended for another year.
“After the Maputo Sadc summit in November 2010, it was extended to cover the whole lifespan of the GPA.
“While we have been on the ground from the day we sent out sell-outs from our party, parties should be sincere to the GPA so that they don’t contest each other. We know that our coalition partners have always been insincere.
“If they insist on contesting us, we are more than ready because we are the fastest growing political brand.”
Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court ordered President Robert Mugabe to pronounce by-election dates for Nkayi South, Bulilima East and Lupane East by August 30.
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This was after MPs Abednico Bhebhe, Norman Mpofu and Njabuliso Mguni respectively were expelled by the MDC in 2009.
The trio later took Mugabe and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to court to force by-elections in their former constituencies.
The three have defected to the MDC-T where Bhebhe has since been elected deputy organising secretary.
However, Bhebhe said he would contest the seat on an MDC-T ticket saying as the last incumbent MP for the area, he was entitled to contest it.
“Why not? Isn’t it I took them to court and won?” Bhebhe said.
“Let’s have these people (MDC) talk like people who are led by a professor of law.
“The law has to be followed, finish. The people that won in court should face them in front of the people. They have been delaying this for too long.”
Bhebhe said it did not matter that he now belonged to a political party that had a pact with other two parties. “That does not matter. Every person has a political party choice. In this case, a ruling was made and it has to be followed.”
On Saturday, Mguni addressed a rally at Daluka in Lupane East urging MDC–T supporters in the constituency to prepare for the by-election.
According to the ruling, Mugabe was given until August 30 to declare by-election dates.
Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa last week told Senate the Supreme Court ruling would affect all the vacant seats in the Senate and House of Assembly, and more than 200 council seats that fell vacant following the death and/or expulsion of the incumbent legislators.
