Disgruntled MDC-T and Zanu PF candidates during the disputed primary elections have posed a headache for the two political parties as they filed papers with the Nomination Court yesterday to contest in the forthcoming elections either as independents or as parallel candidates.
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The move by disgruntled parliamentary aspirants has unsettled Zanu PF and MDC-T as this could mean split votes that might prove costly during the harmonised elections.
Zanu PF has been hit hardest by the move as this could culminate in a protest vote referred to as Bhora Musango (protest vote against the party) which in 2008 resulted in bitter Zanu PF functionaries campaigning against party leader President Robert Mugabe.
Both Zanu PF and the MDC-T have swiftly responded by taking a hardline stance against the rebel candidates.
Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa in an interview last night said: “They have expelled themselves from the party. Each and every one of them who filed as an independent should know that they are no longer party members. There are rules and regulations governing primary elections and if you breach those, you are no longer one of us.”
Asked to comment on parallel candidates like in the Bikita West case where former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe adviser Munyaradzi Kereke and gospel artiste Elias Musakwa both filed nomination papers on a Zanu PF ticket, Mutasa was evasive, saying he was yet to get details.
Kereke and Musakwa’s feud followed serious differences between the two aspirants in a fight which insiders said was centred on factional fights in Zanu PF.
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Kereke is said to be aligned to a faction reportedly led by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa while Musakwa is believed to belong to the rival faction allegedly led by Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
Though Kereke’s name appeared in yesterday’s Zanu PF candidates’ list published by the State media, Musakwa argued that the former RBZ official had been disqualified by the party which should have left him (Musakwa) as the sole candidate.
However, Kereke proceeded to file his papers which were acknowledged by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission under receipt number 013605. In Zvimba North, Marian Chombo, who was turned down by Zanu PF from challenging her former husband Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, filed her papers as an independent candidate.
Shylet Uyoyo, Zanu PF Masvingo women’s league chairperson, chose to stand as an independent in Bikita South.
In Manicaland, embattled former Zanu PF provincial chairman Mike Madiro and his ex-deputy Dorothy Mabika, who were facing charges of stealing cattle meant for President Mugabe’s birthday last year, also filed their papers as independents.
Madiro is set to contest the Mutare North constituency while Mabika is targeting Chipinge Central.
Prominent lawyer Jonathan Samkange who failed to secure Zanu PF’s approval to contest in Mudzi South, Mashonaland East, also decided to go solo as he filed his papers to stand as an independent.
Meanwhile, MDC-T was also facing similar problems as some disgruntled members filed to stand as independent candidates, prompting the party to announce similar measures as those taken by Zanu PF.
MDC T national organising secretary Nelson Chamisa said: “In all the areas except the one case in Manicaland, primary elections were held and the party had one candidate per constituency. In the case of the one seat in Manicaland, because of time, we did not have primary elections and the party will have to determine the candidate. When one stands as an independent it is obvious they are no longer a member of the party.”
In Manicaland National Housing Minister Giles Mutsekwa and lawyer Arnold Tsunga are both vying to represent MDC-T in the Chikanga/Dangamvura Constituency.
In Bulawayo, Felix Magalela Sibanda, who lost the party’s ticket in Magwegwe Constituency, threw his hat into the ring as an independent as did fellow former MP Samuel Sandla Khumalo in Pelandaba-Mpopoma.
Outgoing Harare Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Chiroto, who was fired from MDC-T, also filed to stand as an independent in Harare North where Home Affairs co-minister Theresa Makone will represent the party. Another MDC-T rebel Muza Cheza will enter the Sunningdale race as an independent.
Factionalism cost the MDC–T dearly in the 2008 harmonised elections when it lost seats it could have easily won when the party fielded parallel candidates in Midlands as two factions emerged led by Sesel Zvidzai and the late Gweru businessman Patrick Kombayi.
By the time of going to print official confirmation of candidates from the Nomination Court was not available.
