Geoff Nyarota refuse to concede MDC-T primaries defeat

FORMER Daily News Editor, Geoff Nyarota, who is aspiring to represent the MDC-T in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, has lodged an appeal against MP Pishai Muchauraya's victory at the party's primary elections held on June 9.

MDC-T Spokesperson for Manicaland Province and Makoni South legislator, Pishai Muchauraya was confirmed as a candidate for the forthcoming elections after polling 447 votes against 49 votes for Nyarota.

Nyarota's camp immediately lodged an appeal against Muchauraya's victory.

A delegation consisting of MDC-T Makoni South district officials and members of Nyarota's campaign team are understood to have held a meeting at Harvest House in Harare with MDC-T vice-chairperson Morgan Komichi.

They then submitted a four-page petition detailing irregularities and alleged rigging during the confirmation process held on Sunday.

"We humbly submit that this anomalous election process on Sunday June 9, 2013, be effectively and immediately declared null and void in the interests of justice, fairness and democracy," a section of the petition reads.

The petition was addressed to MDC-T secretary-general, Tendai Biti, and copied to Chairman, Lovemore Moyo and Organising Secretary, Nelson Chamisa.

Chamisa said that he was not aware of the petition.

Muchauraya is facing charges before the courts for allegedly making death threats against Nyarota, his election campaign manager Amos Kutiya, and another MDC-T aspiring councillor for the same constituency, Sophia Chibayambuya. He is denying the charges.

Muchauraya, who was last week denied bail in Rusape is languishing in remand prison after the state invoked Section 121.