JUSTICE and Legal Affairs deputy minister and Chisipite Senator Obert Gutu could be the biggest loser so far after he was excluded from MDC-T’s list of senatorial and provincial government candidates released yesterday.
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Gutu was replaced by new entrant Anna Chimanikire who will represent the party in the Senate race. Party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the list was arrived at after considerations and assessment of the performance and capabilities of the candidates.
“We arrived at this (list) mindful of the quarter system, consistency of the named candidates to the party, the trade unionism background as reflected in most of the people named,” he said.
“We also considered whether they were sitting MPs because there was no time for primaries and we also considered the issue of gender.”
On why Gutu was removed from the list, Mwonzora said: “Harare is a province and it must produce six candidates of which three are men and three female. We had four male candidates and two female of which one had to be dropped. He will be reassigned. He is very useful, young, versatile and dynamic. He will be assigned by the party leader.”
Among the notable candidates on the list is ex-Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president (Bulawayo chapter) Ruth Labode, who will represent the party in Senate proportional representation elections in Matabeleland region.
According to the list seen by NewsDay, former MPs Moses Jiri (Chikomba Central) and Wadi Nezi (Murehwa West) will stand as senatorial candidates in Mashonaland East.
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Other names on the Senate candidate list include Chizhanje Senator Sekai Holland, James Makore (Chitungwiza), Morgan Femai (Chikomo), Cephas Makuyana (Mvurachena) and Rorana Muchihwa (Hwata).
However ex-MPs Jeffreyson Chitando (Masvingo Central), Harrison Mudzuri (Zaka Central), Oliver Chirume (Gutu Central), Ernest Mudavanhu (Zaka North) and Tichaona Chiminya (Masvingo West), who lost the primary election, will now represent the party in the provincial government elections.
Room was also created for trade unionist and ex-Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (Mutare district secretary) Sydney Mukwecheni and Clara Katupira in Manicaland province.
Mutare Senator Keresencia Chabuka remained on the list together with Patrick Chitaka (Mutasa-Nyanga) and Tsungirirayi Muzerengwa (Buhera).
Ex-non-constituency Senator Morgan Komichi will now represent the MDC-T in the Midlands province for the Senate seat.
For proportional representation, the MDC-T nominated Evelyn Masaiti, ex-Dzivarasekwa MP, party vice-president Thokozani Khupe, Labode and party chairperson for the Women Assembly in Bulawayo Concilia Chinanzvavana, among others.
