MDC verifies nominations

THE Welshman Ncube-led MDC's secretariat and elections directorate are currently engaged in a rigorous verification of its parliamentary candidates after the party closed entries for aspiring candidates in mid-February.

In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, party national spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube said following the close of nominations, all applications were taken to the secretariat and the elections directorate to determine those eligible.

"We received overwhelming response from members who submitted their applications," Dube said.

"All those documents are with the secretariat and the elections directorate. We are going to arrive at a final part of primary elections through secret ballot conducted through party structures when we have gone through all processes, but it's not all constituencies which will go through primaries."

Dube added: "(After verification) we will then announce the dates and venues for (primary) elections. At the moment a lot of internal processes are still ongoing."

The process started in November last year, but Dube would not disclose when it would be concluded.  

Zanu-PF is yet to call for submissions of nomination papers from aspiring office bearers.

The MDC revealed that the period one has served the party would be one of the top criteria.

Among those vying for parliamentary posts are policy and research director Qhubani Moyo, who is eyeing Bulawayo Central constituency.

Other party members who applied for nomination include Josmine Toffa (Bulawayo East), Esnath Bulayani (Bulawayo South) and Sibongile Chizuze (Bulawayo Central.)

The party has already indicated that its leader Ncube will contest the presidential elections.