MDC-T Matabeleland South is headed for bruising primary elections with an average of three party members vying for a sole ticket to represent the party in one constituency.
Report by Nqobile Bhebhe
Some aspiring candidates who lost in the 2008 elections have also expressed their interest in contesting in the primary elections, according to a final list of aspiring MDC-T candidates for the province seen by NewsDay yesterday.
Party chairman Lovemore Moyo and Matobo South MP Gabriel Ndebele are not being challenged.
Moyo is set to contest in Matobo North after provincial party chairperson Watchy Sibanda reportedly agreed to pave way for him.
An MDCT list of aspiring candidates indicated that three legislators who were fired from the rival Welshman Ncube-led MDC, Nomalanga Khumalo, Zinti Mnkandla and Norman Mpofu are likely to face stiff competition.
In Umzingwane, the district chairperson, Velempini Tshili, is challenging Khumalo, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Last year, Tshili, together with eight district executive members, were suspended for refusing to accommodate Khumalo and her team into the MDC-T.
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Former legislator for Bullilima East, Mpofu, will battle it out with Solani Moyo who is the present MDC-T Matabeleland South organising secretary.
In Gwanda North, another ex-MDC MP, Mnkandla, is being challenged by Bhekilifa Sibanda.
The 2008 losing Bulilima West candidate, Ready Ndlovu is reportedly making another go for a parliamentary seat.
Morgan Ncube, the MDC-T youth chairperson in the province is contesting a Ndou for the Beitbridge East seat.
Gwanda South has three candidates, Ecken Moyo, Nephat Mdlongwa and Buhle Malemane. Gwanda Central has Mthokosizi Bhebhe, the provincial spokesperson Nomathemba Ndlovu and Juliet Nkiwane who was defeated in the senatorial race for the Gwanda seat in 2008.
Jabulani Ndlovu and Mpumelelo Ndlovu will square off in Insiza South.
MDC-T have since banned aspiring legislators from openly campaigning for office against sitting legislators with the party saying allowing aspiring MPs to campaign would destabilise the party.
A sitting parliamentarian requires a two-thirds majority from the party structures in his or her constituency to avoid primary elections, the party’s election guidelines state.
The MDC-T was recently forced to postpone the holding of its primary elections following infighting and chaos over the election guidelines.
