News / National
MDC confident of winning Bikita by-election
13 Jul 2019 at 08:11hrs | Views
THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to guard against all electoral malpractices, including vote rigging during the Bikita ward 31 by-by-election set for today, claiming the opposition party will romp to victory if the playfield is level.
The by-election is to fill the council seat left vacant following the death of Zanu-PF councillor Patrick Marozhe on April 15 this year.
MDC is being represented by its Bikita district chairperson Moses Maphosa, while Thomas Mataga will stand for Zanu-PF.
In an interview with Southern Eye yesterday, MDC secretary for elections Jacob Mafume said his party was confident of winning the poll.
"We have done two rallies there and our teams worked throughout last weekend to drum-up support. We are confident that if Zec is impartial, independent and does not allow people to be intimidated, does not allow people to be bought, (does not allow) assisted voters to multiply, food to be distributed on election day, then we will win the Bikita by-election," he said.
MDC held the seat from 2008 to 2013 when it lost it to Zanu-PF.
Mafume said the party had done its homework and is set to win back the seat.
"Previously (2013 elections), it was affected by double candidates. Now, we have a single candidate. We have got our own agents who are trained. They are ready to stop any mischief," he said.
Mafume claimed that the opposition had become more popular due to Zanu-PF's bad policies.
"It is now clear to all and sundry that Zanu-PF has failed. They no longer allow those in rural areas to sell their maize. There are no jobs. There is no education, and there is no electricity; there is also no good healthcare. With all this, no person in their right mind can vote for Zanu-PF," he said.
MDC organising secretary Amos Chibaya also expressed optimism the party will win the seat.
"Prices of basic commodities continue to skyrocket. There is no shop that sells cheap things to Zanu-PF supporters. We all buy in expensive shops. So, even Zanu-PF supporters are also feeling the pain. They want change," he said.
"We won the seat before, so we are taking it back. In fact, we have plans to win all the other by-elections in future."
Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo poured cold water on MDC's assertions.
"If the MDC is arguing the bad economy will make Zanu-PF lose, let them win if they are saying so. What they think is not what we think. We are prepared to win," he said.
The by-election is to fill the council seat left vacant following the death of Zanu-PF councillor Patrick Marozhe on April 15 this year.
MDC is being represented by its Bikita district chairperson Moses Maphosa, while Thomas Mataga will stand for Zanu-PF.
In an interview with Southern Eye yesterday, MDC secretary for elections Jacob Mafume said his party was confident of winning the poll.
"We have done two rallies there and our teams worked throughout last weekend to drum-up support. We are confident that if Zec is impartial, independent and does not allow people to be intimidated, does not allow people to be bought, (does not allow) assisted voters to multiply, food to be distributed on election day, then we will win the Bikita by-election," he said.
MDC held the seat from 2008 to 2013 when it lost it to Zanu-PF.
Mafume said the party had done its homework and is set to win back the seat.
"Previously (2013 elections), it was affected by double candidates. Now, we have a single candidate. We have got our own agents who are trained. They are ready to stop any mischief," he said.
Mafume claimed that the opposition had become more popular due to Zanu-PF's bad policies.
"It is now clear to all and sundry that Zanu-PF has failed. They no longer allow those in rural areas to sell their maize. There are no jobs. There is no education, and there is no electricity; there is also no good healthcare. With all this, no person in their right mind can vote for Zanu-PF," he said.
MDC organising secretary Amos Chibaya also expressed optimism the party will win the seat.
"Prices of basic commodities continue to skyrocket. There is no shop that sells cheap things to Zanu-PF supporters. We all buy in expensive shops. So, even Zanu-PF supporters are also feeling the pain. They want change," he said.
"We won the seat before, so we are taking it back. In fact, we have plans to win all the other by-elections in future."
Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo poured cold water on MDC's assertions.
"If the MDC is arguing the bad economy will make Zanu-PF lose, let them win if they are saying so. What they think is not what we think. We are prepared to win," he said.
Source - newsday
