News / National
MDC primary elections to begin in the next two weeks
02 Jun 2013 at 12:02hrs | Views
SELECTION of candidates to represent the MDC formation led by professor Welshman Ncube will begin in the next two weeks, party secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga has said.
Mushonga said this followed the expiry of Friday's deadline for interested MDC members to submit applications to represent the party in the forthcoming harmonised elections.
She said while other parties were holding primary elections, the MDC had opted for a process where candidates would be selected through "consensus".
"I have already sent a memo to provinces to start preparing for the consensus-building process. This involves candidates holding discussions with the constituents to outline what they are offering with the hope of agreeing on a single nominee, without going for primary elections," Mushonga said.
She said only in circumstances where consensus is not reached, would primary elections be held.
Mushonga said through the "consensus building discussions", candidates would be fully appraised of the posts available for contest.
Mushonga said people from different backgrounds were keen to represent the MDC in parliamentary and local elections.
"We have a complete mix of all classes, ranging from intellectuals, the middle class and the very rich who now have a sense that to protect your wealth, you have to join politics," she said.
"We also have good candidates for councillors, some of them business people and property owners. There are also many young people who are coming in to contest."
Mushonga said this followed the expiry of Friday's deadline for interested MDC members to submit applications to represent the party in the forthcoming harmonised elections.
She said while other parties were holding primary elections, the MDC had opted for a process where candidates would be selected through "consensus".
"I have already sent a memo to provinces to start preparing for the consensus-building process. This involves candidates holding discussions with the constituents to outline what they are offering with the hope of agreeing on a single nominee, without going for primary elections," Mushonga said.
She said only in circumstances where consensus is not reached, would primary elections be held.
Mushonga said people from different backgrounds were keen to represent the MDC in parliamentary and local elections.
"We have a complete mix of all classes, ranging from intellectuals, the middle class and the very rich who now have a sense that to protect your wealth, you have to join politics," she said.
"We also have good candidates for councillors, some of them business people and property owners. There are also many young people who are coming in to contest."
Source - standard
