News / National
Seven candidates to contest in Bikita West MDC-T primaries
09 Mar 2017 at 00:30hrs | Views
BIKITA - Despite lack of meaningful electoral reforms, preparations for the 2018 harmonised elections is already gathering momentum in Bikita West, with seven candidates showing interest in representing the constituency in the house of assembly on a date yet to be announced, sources close to the district executive has revealed.
The seven are; disctrict secretary, Timothy Ndongwe of ward 13, who is a teacher at Chirumba High School, Cassiano Chaodza of ward 9, who holds an unspecified district portifolio, and is currrently employed as a security officer. Chaodza once worked as former MDC-T legislature, Heya Shoko's office orderly from 2008 to 2013.
Other candidates include former ward 9 councillor who is also the disctrict deputy secretary for Information and Publicity, Zororo Moyo. Malvern Mangwayana of ward 9, who is the district deputy Treasurer also teacher at Marecha High School is also eying the post. The district portifolio secretary for elections, Vincent Chemvumi of ward 9 is among the contestants, while Elliott Muposhi the district portfolio secretary for the disabled and formerly an employee of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU), and little known Pikirai Gutuza who is currently based in South Africa complete the pack. The district chair Charles Mhizha refused to discuss the issue of primary elections into detail, but accepted seven candidates have submitted their names.
"Yes, I can confirm that seven candidates have submitted their names but I cannot get into details now," he said.
However, the source has revealed that, the district executive is trying to persuade candidates themselves to agree on one candidate to avoid primary elections which they fear would create divisions within the party. "The district executive is frantically trying to persuade the candidates to agree on one candidate, but it seems no one is willing to step down, and primary elections are inevitable," said the source.
Bikita West is currently under Zanu PF after Beauty Chabaya trounced Zim-PF and NCA in a sham by-election held early this year in which MDC-T refused to participate citing lack of electrical reforms.
The seat fell vacant after the incarceration of Zanu-PF member of parliament Munyaradzi Kereke on rape charges. However, without electoral reforms MDC-T might fail to reclaim the seat from Zanu-PF. The government's recent announcement that it was taking over the Biometric Voter Registration kits procurement process, is likely to be major blow on MDC-T and other political parties.
The seven are; disctrict secretary, Timothy Ndongwe of ward 13, who is a teacher at Chirumba High School, Cassiano Chaodza of ward 9, who holds an unspecified district portifolio, and is currrently employed as a security officer. Chaodza once worked as former MDC-T legislature, Heya Shoko's office orderly from 2008 to 2013.
Other candidates include former ward 9 councillor who is also the disctrict deputy secretary for Information and Publicity, Zororo Moyo. Malvern Mangwayana of ward 9, who is the district deputy Treasurer also teacher at Marecha High School is also eying the post. The district portifolio secretary for elections, Vincent Chemvumi of ward 9 is among the contestants, while Elliott Muposhi the district portfolio secretary for the disabled and formerly an employee of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU), and little known Pikirai Gutuza who is currently based in South Africa complete the pack. The district chair Charles Mhizha refused to discuss the issue of primary elections into detail, but accepted seven candidates have submitted their names.
However, the source has revealed that, the district executive is trying to persuade candidates themselves to agree on one candidate to avoid primary elections which they fear would create divisions within the party. "The district executive is frantically trying to persuade the candidates to agree on one candidate, but it seems no one is willing to step down, and primary elections are inevitable," said the source.
Bikita West is currently under Zanu PF after Beauty Chabaya trounced Zim-PF and NCA in a sham by-election held early this year in which MDC-T refused to participate citing lack of electrical reforms.
The seat fell vacant after the incarceration of Zanu-PF member of parliament Munyaradzi Kereke on rape charges. However, without electoral reforms MDC-T might fail to reclaim the seat from Zanu-PF. The government's recent announcement that it was taking over the Biometric Voter Registration kits procurement process, is likely to be major blow on MDC-T and other political parties.
Source - Garikai Mafirakureva
