MDC-T disqualifies Paddington Japajapa

MDC-T has disqualified Zimbabwe Indigenous Economic Empowerment Organisation president Mr Paddington Japajapa from contesting in the party primary elections because of his beliefs in Zanu-PF initiated empowerment schemes meant to empower black

people. Mr Japajapa had applied to challenge Warren Park legislator Mr Elias Mudzuri in the primaries whose dates are yet to be announced.

Sources in the MDC-T said Mr Japajapa had been disqualified because of his beliefs in indigenisation and suspected Zanu-PF links.

"Japajapa cannot claim to be MDC-T because he has Zanu-PF beliefs for instance his inclination towards indigenisation," said a national council member that declined to be named.

"We are very clear that he doesn't belong to us. He is a Zanu-PF person who is just trying his luck and wants to be an insider."

A national executive member added: "It would have been unwise for the national council to accept his application because we know he is a Zanu-PF mole.

"We cannot allow infiltration because we know what he stands for. He believes in indigenisation something that is contrary to MDC-T beliefs. He may have an MDC-T card at home but he certainly does not belong to us because of his public pronouncements on indigenisation."

However, Mr Japajapa said the MDC-T was yet to advise him that his application had been rejected.

"I haven't received any correspondence from the party about that decision but if indeed they disqualified me then I will appeal to the national council that is headed by the president (Mr Morgan Tsvangirai)," he said.

"If they disqualified me for suspecting that I am a Zanu-PF mole that would be irregular because I have never been a Zanu-PF member. If the party could accept Tracy Mutinhiri, a former Zanu-PF Women's League political commissar and MP but reject my application, it leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

"I have three party cards since the formation of the (MDC) party. One of the cards I was given by (Paurina) Mpariwa but now the party disqualifies me.

"How can they say I am a mole when I am not and have never been a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation? It would be undemocratic for a party that calls itself democratic if it can disqualify people on unreasonable grounds."

Mr Japajapa said the fact that his application had been recommended by the district justified his allegiance to MDC-T.

However, MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora tried to downplay the reasons why Mr Japajapa was disqualified.

"What we know is that his name was discussed by the national council but he did not meet the criteria," said Mr Mwonzora.

"We had clear guidelines on the criteria to the guidelines which had nothing to do with indigenisation or economic philosophy of individuals. It was not the reason he was disqualified.

"Reasons can be furnished to Mr Japajapa, should he insist on knowing them. If he is not satisfied he can appeal to the standing committee via the secretary general or the national chairman."

Meanwhile, Mr Mwonzora said the MDC-T standing committee yesterday accepted about 30 appeals out 42.

The MDC-T says close to 5 000 people had their applications to contest in primaries accepted.