News / National
Voters voted for the party not individuals that is why now there is concern over mayoral election
06 Sep 2018 at 07:16hrs | Views
Zimbabwe Communist Party secretary general Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena has said the Bulawayo residents who voted on July 30 voted for the party MDC Alliance and were not careful to look who the candidates were, that is why now they are concerned over the election of the city mayor.
"If you are not a resident of Bulawayo, you will think the contest for the position of Mayor and the Deputy Mayor is between ZANU (PF) and the MDC Alliance. On the 30th July, the people of Bulawayo voted for the 29 MDC Alliance councillors to run the affairs of the City for the next 5 years. In terms of the constitution, the 29 MDC Alliance councillors must elect amongst themselves the Mayor & the Deputy Mayor. The MDC Alliance 29 councillors are split between the Ndebele and Shona speaking. Some residents are saying a Shona speaking person can not be elected as Mayor or Deputy Mayor, they then fear that, if the election of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor is left to the 29 Councillors as was the case in other cities, the Councillors might elect a Shona speaking person hence the mass mobilisation now taking place in Bulawayo and surrounding areas," he said.
"When the voters went to cast their votes on 30th July, they were only looking for a party symbol not the name of a candidate. Assuming (l did not check) that ZANU (PF) fielded all 29 council candidates of Ndebele origin, they are now asking residents this question , why did you reject your very own Ndebele speaking council candidate whom we presented in favour of a council candidate whom you will not want to be a Mayor of the City?"
He said the MDC Alliance is preparing for its congress , its political structures in Bulawayo will once again be dominated by the working class of all tribes in the City (by the way working class know no tribe) and they will once again mobilise for an MDC Alliance victory in the City of Bulawayo in 2023.
"Its political structures will have the task of once again electing council and MP candidates who will represent the party. It is possible that in 2023 the MDC Alliance will have more Shona speaking candidates in Bulawayo and we all know what this means," he said.
"As Communists, we are saying, residents should at all material times elect a candidate who advances its interests. In other words, a candidate must emerge from the community struggles. The origins of the said candidate is immaterial, what is key in our view is that, for one to hold a public office , one must work with their community in addressing societal issues. Communities must refuse the imposition of a candidate and equally communities must vote for a candidate they have identified irrespective of party affiliation. This chete chete mentality must be rejected."
"If you are not a resident of Bulawayo, you will think the contest for the position of Mayor and the Deputy Mayor is between ZANU (PF) and the MDC Alliance. On the 30th July, the people of Bulawayo voted for the 29 MDC Alliance councillors to run the affairs of the City for the next 5 years. In terms of the constitution, the 29 MDC Alliance councillors must elect amongst themselves the Mayor & the Deputy Mayor. The MDC Alliance 29 councillors are split between the Ndebele and Shona speaking. Some residents are saying a Shona speaking person can not be elected as Mayor or Deputy Mayor, they then fear that, if the election of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor is left to the 29 Councillors as was the case in other cities, the Councillors might elect a Shona speaking person hence the mass mobilisation now taking place in Bulawayo and surrounding areas," he said.
"When the voters went to cast their votes on 30th July, they were only looking for a party symbol not the name of a candidate. Assuming (l did not check) that ZANU (PF) fielded all 29 council candidates of Ndebele origin, they are now asking residents this question , why did you reject your very own Ndebele speaking council candidate whom we presented in favour of a council candidate whom you will not want to be a Mayor of the City?"
He said the MDC Alliance is preparing for its congress , its political structures in Bulawayo will once again be dominated by the working class of all tribes in the City (by the way working class know no tribe) and they will once again mobilise for an MDC Alliance victory in the City of Bulawayo in 2023.
"Its political structures will have the task of once again electing council and MP candidates who will represent the party. It is possible that in 2023 the MDC Alliance will have more Shona speaking candidates in Bulawayo and we all know what this means," he said.
"As Communists, we are saying, residents should at all material times elect a candidate who advances its interests. In other words, a candidate must emerge from the community struggles. The origins of the said candidate is immaterial, what is key in our view is that, for one to hold a public office , one must work with their community in addressing societal issues. Communities must refuse the imposition of a candidate and equally communities must vote for a candidate they have identified irrespective of party affiliation. This chete chete mentality must be rejected."
Source - Byo24News
