MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai and party secretary-general Tendai Biti are expected in Bulawayo today to attend to mounting complaints that the party has bungled its candidate selection procedures.
Report by Nduduzo Tshuma
A number of MDC-T MPs in the city are reportedly facing a stiff challenge from aspiring candidates who were recently given the nod by the party’s national council to contest in primary elections.
Some aspiring candidates who were disqualified have reportedly filed fresh appeals with the party, prompting Tsvangirai and his top lieutenants to visit the city to explain the criterion for the selection of candidates.
MDC-T Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Mandla Sibanda yesterday confirmed the visit, but denied that the leadership was coming to address problems related to the selection of candidates.
“Yes, they are coming tomorrow (today) to address the people about the policy of the party,” Sibanda said.
Asked whether Tsvangirai and Biti would also address the widening rifts over the selection of party candidates, Sibanda said: “Such issues are addressed by the national executive council and not two individuals.”
However, party insiders said there was swelling discontent over the selection of candidates for the forthcoming harmonised elections.
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The sources said a list of contenders approved last week had been returned to Harare following the disqualification of some aspiring candidates.
“There are candidates like Mandla Nyathi from the National University of Science and Technology who wanted to challenge Thabitha Khumalo in the Bulawayo East Constituency, but was disqualified because of the party’s policy that no male candidate should challenge for a seat held by a female,” said the source.
