News / National
MDC speaks on Cowdray Park election fracas
02 Apr 2019 at 07:13hrs | Views
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change has issued a statement acknowledging that the fielding of double candidates in the recently held by-election in Cowdray Park confused the voters and caused the party to lose the council seat.
"We… accept the concern on the fielding of double candidates and appreciate that it created confusion. However, the party would like to assure its supporters that it will not happen again," MDC said.
"The party agrees that there are lessons to be learnt and we assure the public that the elections directorate is compiling the observations made and working on a plan to correct all the mistakes that the party made. The congress will among other things discuss and strengthen disciplinary mechanisms as well as a holistic renewal of internal cohesion."
MDC further said the environment leading to the voting day was not favorable to the party because state agents were working all out to make sure ZANU PF wins.
"We however, want to highlight that the times in which candidate selection was taking place also came with a hostile environment in respect of which targeted violence was being perpetrated on those mandated by the party to handle internal elections. Some of them had their homes invaded while others were arrested. In fact, one of the venues of the primary elections was raided by the police disrupting the process.
"The party will however do more to motivate the social base to defend our zones of autonomy because the figures reflect high levels of apathy, our supporters must be assured that solutions are being sought in this respect."
MDC lost the Council seat to ZANU PF's candidate Kidwell Mujuru who become the first ruling party's councilor to win in Bulawayo since 2000.
"We… accept the concern on the fielding of double candidates and appreciate that it created confusion. However, the party would like to assure its supporters that it will not happen again," MDC said.
"The party agrees that there are lessons to be learnt and we assure the public that the elections directorate is compiling the observations made and working on a plan to correct all the mistakes that the party made. The congress will among other things discuss and strengthen disciplinary mechanisms as well as a holistic renewal of internal cohesion."
MDC further said the environment leading to the voting day was not favorable to the party because state agents were working all out to make sure ZANU PF wins.
"We however, want to highlight that the times in which candidate selection was taking place also came with a hostile environment in respect of which targeted violence was being perpetrated on those mandated by the party to handle internal elections. Some of them had their homes invaded while others were arrested. In fact, one of the venues of the primary elections was raided by the police disrupting the process.
"The party will however do more to motivate the social base to defend our zones of autonomy because the figures reflect high levels of apathy, our supporters must be assured that solutions are being sought in this respect."
MDC lost the Council seat to ZANU PF's candidate Kidwell Mujuru who become the first ruling party's councilor to win in Bulawayo since 2000.
Source - Byo24News
