By Talent Gondo| The Welshman Ncube MDC has approved National Assembly candidates to contest the forthcoming harmonised polls under the umbrella of the MDC Alliance, ZimEye has learnt.
MDC National Spokesperson, Kurauone Chihwayi said the party’s highest decision making body, the National Council met in Harare on Saturday 12 May 2018 and deliberated on several issues including the forthcoming harmonised polls.
“Council approved candidates for House of Assembly seats allocated to the party in terms of the MDC Alliance agreement,” said Chihwayi.
The following were approved to contest for the National Assembly seats in the forthcoming polls under the MDC Alliance.
Pilate Ndebele – Bulilima West
Maxwel Mthunzana- Lupane East
Mxolisi Sibanda – Lupane West
Witness Khumalo – Tsholotsho North
Zenzo Nkomo – Tsholotsho South
Joyce Ndlovu – Gwanda North
Patrick Dube – Gwanda Central
Angilacala – Ndlovu Insiza South
David Coltart – Bulawayo East
Stella Ndlovu – Luveve
Nimrod Lunga – Vungu
Miriam Mushayi – Kuwadzana
Edwin Mushoriwa – Dzivarasekwa
Thandiwe Mlilo – Mberengwa East
Osherd Mtunami – Shurugwi South
Nicholas Bwanyashuro Muzvezve
Maseko – Zvishavane Runde
Moreblessing Charuma – Chegutu East
Munyamana Godfrey – Mutare North
Jealous Munemero – Buhera North
Faith Chakwera – Mazowe South
Tamary Chimanzi – Mazowe West
Nyanhete – Chikomba West
Boniface Mushore – Mutoko North
Constance Chihota – Marondera West
Kenias Donga – Chiredzi East
Lovemore Zanawi – Chiredzi South
George Mudombo – Chivi Central
Tibba Paswell – Chivi South
Christopher Monera- Mhondoro Mubaira
The party also deliberated on the code of conduct for political parties reiterating the party’s demand for a palpably free, fair and credible election.
“The MDC reaffirmed the commitment of the party to the Code of Conduct for political parties worked on by the political parties represented in Parliament in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Election Commission,” said Chihwayi.
He said the National Council endorsed the working draft of the code and mandated the Standing committee to work closely with other parties to ensure the adoption, launch and popularisation of the Code of Conduct.
However, the party lamented the continued lack of equal, fair and balanced coverage of electoral processes and political parties by the public media in the run up to the elections.
“Council once again expressed concern at the unsatisfactory electoral environment which still persists only a few months before the elections.
In this regard, Council demanded the complete demilitarization of all electoral processes, including the recall back into barracks of all security personnel deployed in communities as part of Zanu PF election strategy,” said Chihwayi.
The MDC also noted with concern the delays in the finalisation of the voters roll and the failure by ZEC to carry out adequate voter education and to ensure that voter registration is fully accessible to all Zimbabweans.
“Council appealed to ZEC to expedite the production of an accurate and clean biometric voters roll. It is most likely that Zanu PF is planning to rig the elections using the ballot paper,” said the MDC.
In this regard the Standing Committee was given the task of working with Alliance partners in the MDC Alliance in doing everything possible to cause ZEC and the government to adopt a public ballot procurement process that is open, transparent, verifiable and subject to audit so that the ballot paper will not be manipulated to predetermine against the will of the people and the electoral outcome.
“Council requested the Standing Committee to make the issue of the procurement, printing, securing and distribution of the ballot paper the highest non negotiable priority of the MDC Alliance,” said the MDC.
Chihwayi said regarding the Alliance, his party expressed its commitment to working with other Alliance partners to the fullest extent possible.
“The party reaffirmed the mandate previously given to the Standing Committee to work with Alliance partners within the limited time left to reach out to other significant opposition parties, alliances, coalitions so that the broadest and cohesive alliance and coalition is built before the election,” said Chihwayi.