News / Regional
Dabengwa's Zapu to contest by-elections
16 Apr 2015 at 04:05hrs | Views
ZAPU party led by former Zanu-PF politburo member Dumiso Dabengwa says it will participate in the forthcoming by-elections despite the stance taken by its opposition allies to boycott the June 10 polls citing an uneven playing field.
Zapu alternate secretary-general Strike Mnkandla said his party was against the election boycott.
Mnkandla indicated that Zapu would go it alone this time and expected to contest some seats in Bulawayo.
"We are not boycotting any elections and the party will field candidates in some constituencies," he said.
"These by-elections came at a short notice when we were in the middle of restructuring and some constituencies are ready while others are not."
Mnkandla said there was no need for MDC-T to boycott elections since the party contested the 2013 polls under the same conditions.
The Lovemore Madhuku led National Constitutional Assemble (NCA) said it would contest the 16 by-elections arguing that it does not boycott polls.
NCA spokesperson Madock Chivasa said his party will participate in every election.
"We are participating in every election. We are doing this preparing for 2018 general elections," Chivasa said.
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court cleared the way for by-elections after it threw out a case by MDC-Renewal members challenging their dismissal.
Zanu PF fired its former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and his nephew Temba Mliswa, paving the way for by-elections in their constituencies.
Fourteen seats are up for grabs after MDC-T fired 21 MPs who crossed to the MDC-Renewal Team led by Sekai Holland.
Five of the vacant seats are in Bulawayo. Tsholotsho North will be the sixth constituency where elections will be held in Matabeleland.
Two more by-elections will be held in Headlands and Hurungwe West after Zanu PF fired incumbent MPs Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa respectively.
Zapu alternate secretary-general Strike Mnkandla said his party was against the election boycott.
Mnkandla indicated that Zapu would go it alone this time and expected to contest some seats in Bulawayo.
"We are not boycotting any elections and the party will field candidates in some constituencies," he said.
"These by-elections came at a short notice when we were in the middle of restructuring and some constituencies are ready while others are not."
Mnkandla said there was no need for MDC-T to boycott elections since the party contested the 2013 polls under the same conditions.
The Lovemore Madhuku led National Constitutional Assemble (NCA) said it would contest the 16 by-elections arguing that it does not boycott polls.
"We are participating in every election. We are doing this preparing for 2018 general elections," Chivasa said.
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court cleared the way for by-elections after it threw out a case by MDC-Renewal members challenging their dismissal.
Zanu PF fired its former secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and his nephew Temba Mliswa, paving the way for by-elections in their constituencies.
Fourteen seats are up for grabs after MDC-T fired 21 MPs who crossed to the MDC-Renewal Team led by Sekai Holland.
Five of the vacant seats are in Bulawayo. Tsholotsho North will be the sixth constituency where elections will be held in Matabeleland.
Two more by-elections will be held in Headlands and Hurungwe West after Zanu PF fired incumbent MPs Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa respectively.
Source - Southern Eye
