YOUTHS from the MDC have expressed interest in vying for parliamentary and council seats with party youth secretary-general Discent Bajila seeking to wrest the Matobo South constituency from incumbent MDC-T legislator Gabriel Ndebele.
Report by Blondie Ndebele
This follows the party’s decision last week to invite aspiring candidates of the Welshman Ncube-led MDC to submit their applications in readiness for harmonised polls later this year.
In an interview yesterday, MDC spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube said the party encouraged equal representation throughout its structures and youths were welcome to submit their applications as well.
“We will see their applications and they will qualify if they have the right qualifications,” he said.
“They will be assessed together with other candidates without favour. We will be fielding candidates in all the constituencies throughout the country.”
Dube said party secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga would today issue out a circular to all party structures advising them of the development.
“In principle, the process (to select candidates) has already started, but the secretary-general will issue out a circular on Monday (today) and the process will go on for a month,” he said.
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Sources said there were a number of youths who had indicated interest to stand as candidates, including officials from the national youth structures like Bajila, national chairperson Gideon Mandaza who is reportedly eyeing Zengeza, treasurer-general Godwin Masiya who wants to stand in Zaka West and deputy national organiser Celani Ncube eyeing Lupane seat.
The sources said the youth assembly’s secretary for recruitment Kudakwashe Munengiwa wants to stand in Mkoba, while the secretary for mobilisation Thokozani Sileya is eyeing a seat in Nkayi and youth chairman for Masvingo province Vincent Makombedze is reported to have set his sights on Gutu South.
“Most of the youths who hold national positions and some who are in provincial structures throughout the country have shown their interest in being MPs or councillors,” one of the sources said.
“The majority of them feel they have stayed with the party long enough to know more about the party principles and leadership skills and, therefore, are ready to take on the challenge.”
Dube, however, said he was not in a position to disclose the criteria that would be used by the party to select candidates.
“The criteria are an internal issue,” he said. “We measure them (candidates) within the requirements of the party’s constitution and where a consensus is not reached, we go for primary elections.”
