MUTARE —
Former Mutare mayor Brian Leslie James says he will not pull of this year’s election following a letter purportedly written by the party’s secretary general, Tendai Biti, asking him to withdraw his nomination papers for Mutare’s Murambi Ward 12 council seat.
James told VOA Studio 7 on Friday that he is not going back on his decision to stand as a candidate for the MDC-T, adding confusion over the letter has been dispelled by another one from Biti and his deputy, Tapiwa Mashakada, clearing him to stand in the elections.
The MDC-T also has another candidate standing for the same council seat. The former mayor says he is not sure how the party will handle the situation but he proposes a fresh primary election with the loser being asked to withdraw their nomination papers.
James said the first letter which was sent to the provincial leadership was a bit ambiguous showing that it could have been fake as it may have emanated from some in the MDC-T pushing their own candidates.
James also said the letter could have been penned by some people in the party who are not happy about his public pronouncement that the MDC-T’s recent primary elections were a sham.
Biti told VOA that he did not write the letter that demanded the former Mutare mayor pull out of the elections.
Other MDC-T candidates who chose to stand as independents in the election include Regai Tsunga in Mutasa South, who will battle it out with Misheck Kagurabadza and Zanu PF’s Irene Zindi.
Ngaaite Zimunya, another so-called MDC rebel, will contest against Robert Saunyama and Zanu PF’s Nyasha Chikwinya.
James told VOA Studio 7 on Friday that he is not going back on his decision to stand as a candidate for the MDC-T, adding confusion over the letter has been dispelled by another one from Biti and his deputy, Tapiwa Mashakada, clearing him to stand in the elections.
The MDC-T also has another candidate standing for the same council seat. The former mayor says he is not sure how the party will handle the situation but he proposes a fresh primary election with the loser being asked to withdraw their nomination papers.
James said the first letter which was sent to the provincial leadership was a bit ambiguous showing that it could have been fake as it may have emanated from some in the MDC-T pushing their own candidates.
James also said the letter could have been penned by some people in the party who are not happy about his public pronouncement that the MDC-T’s recent primary elections were a sham.
Biti told VOA that he did not write the letter that demanded the former Mutare mayor pull out of the elections.
Other MDC-T candidates who chose to stand as independents in the election include Regai Tsunga in Mutasa South, who will battle it out with Misheck Kagurabadza and Zanu PF’s Irene Zindi.
Ngaaite Zimunya, another so-called MDC rebel, will contest against Robert Saunyama and Zanu PF’s Nyasha Chikwinya.