THE Tendai Biti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will this weekend kick-start its 2018 election campaign by choosing shadow councillors to contest in the Bulawayo local government polls.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
PDP said this would show the party’s readiness to contest the polls despite recently suffering massive defections of its members to Joice Mujuru’s ZimPF.
PDP provincial spokesperson, Edwin Ndlovu said this does not mean the party is boycotting unity talks with other opposition movements.
Ndlovu said the opposition party will be choosing shadow councillors in Lobengula (ward 12), Mpopoma (wards 9 and 13), Nkulumane (ward 20 and 23), Bulawayo South (Ward 21), Luveve (Ward 16) Emakhandeni-Entumbane (Ward 11), Makokoba (Ward 7) and Nketa (Ward 25).
“PDP Bulawayo province will this weekend start holding elections for shadow councillors as per the party’s national council resolution,” he said.
“The wards’ assemblies will be meeting in each ward, as from Saturday to elect the shadow councillors.
“The process will start with wards and primary elections would be held to choose a representative where consensus is not reached.”
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Ndlovu said shadow councillors will monitor service delivery, develop party policies that are responsive to communities, monitor government programmes such as food aid, strengthen party mobilisation and prepare a team that will take over.
“As much as we intend to be in a grand coalition with other parties, our general council resolved that our own party programmes must go ahead. We must not be paralysed by the coalition talks, as we are a party on our own,” he said.
Dumiso Dabengwa’s Zapu has also rolled out the same exercise of electioneering and selecting candidates, beginning with aspiring councillors.
According to Zapu officials, this will afford its candidates enough time to effectively campaign ahead of the next general elections, in the hope it will improve the party’s electoral performance.
Zapu contested the 2015 by-elections in Bulawayo, where it draws most of its support, but lost to Zanu PF.
