A RECORD 50 sitting MPs were shown the exit door by the electorate in the just-ended Zanu PF and MDC-T primary elections, a move which analysts have described as a wake-up call to aspiring legislators that the electorate can no longer be taken for granted.
MOSES MATENGA
The majority of the ditched MPs came from Zanu PF while Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T party had 17.
Political analyst Ernest Mudzengi said : “It points to the fact that when elected into Parliament people must keep in touch and not use the ticket as a way to get allowances. They should represent the people otherwise people will reject them.”
MDC-T national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa said the outcome reflected democracy at work.
“Democracy produces two outcomes, one favourable and the other one not favourable. This is an indication of democracy in the party,” Chamisa said.
Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Notable figures in Zanu PF who received a vote-of-no-confidence from their supporters include Agriculture minister Joseph Made, Chivi South MP Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana while the MDC-T had the likes of Budiriro MP and minister of Science and Technology Development Heneri Dzinotyiwei, Highfield West MP Simon Hove and Fidelis Mhashu Chitungwiza (North MP) among others.
