WASHINGTON DC —
The two formations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), currently smarting from an election defeat by President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party in the just-ended general election, say they will field candidates in three bye-elections set for September.
The formations led by outgoing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Welshman Ncube say their candidates are ready for the polls in Kadoma Municipality’s Ward 4, Ward 5 in Kusile Rural District Council and Mutasa Rural District’s Ward 30.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said in a statement Wednesday that the polls are being held under some provisions of the Electoral Act for settling electoral ties. The new constitution stipulates that a bye-election should be held where there is an equality of votes for candidates.
Joel Gabhuza, deputy spokesman of the MDC party led by Mr. Tsvangirai said his party is expected to field the same candidates in the bye-election.
“We are always prepared to field candidates in any election and we hope that our candidates will win. We believe that our party has the capacity to mobilize supporters for the bye-elections in the three wards.
Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo could not comment as MDC-T and Zanu PF candidates recorded electoral vote ties in all the three wards.
Nhlanhla Dube, spokesman for the MDC formation of Professor Welshman Ncube said his party will trounce MDC-T and Zanu PF if it is allowed to field candidates in the bye-elections.
“This is a new game altogether. We will all start from zero hoping that our candidates are strong enough to take part in these polls. I have a conviction that the MDC candidates stand a big chance of winning,” said Dube.
His party performed below expectations in the just-ended general election as it lost all parliamentary seats and some crucial wards in its stronghold of Matabeleland South province.
The formations led by outgoing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Welshman Ncube say their candidates are ready for the polls in Kadoma Municipality’s Ward 4, Ward 5 in Kusile Rural District Council and Mutasa Rural District’s Ward 30.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said in a statement Wednesday that the polls are being held under some provisions of the Electoral Act for settling electoral ties. The new constitution stipulates that a bye-election should be held where there is an equality of votes for candidates.
Joel Gabhuza, deputy spokesman of the MDC party led by Mr. Tsvangirai said his party is expected to field the same candidates in the bye-election.
“We are always prepared to field candidates in any election and we hope that our candidates will win. We believe that our party has the capacity to mobilize supporters for the bye-elections in the three wards.
Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo could not comment as MDC-T and Zanu PF candidates recorded electoral vote ties in all the three wards.
Nhlanhla Dube, spokesman for the MDC formation of Professor Welshman Ncube said his party will trounce MDC-T and Zanu PF if it is allowed to field candidates in the bye-elections.
“This is a new game altogether. We will all start from zero hoping that our candidates are strong enough to take part in these polls. I have a conviction that the MDC candidates stand a big chance of winning,” said Dube.
His party performed below expectations in the just-ended general election as it lost all parliamentary seats and some crucial wards in its stronghold of Matabeleland South province.