MDC-T Sets Date For Primary Elections

  • Ntungamili Nkomo
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangiriai says its primary elections and the confirmation of sitting lawmakers will start on April 20.

The party made the announcement Thursday following a decision by its National Council.

Officials say 1,000 candidates will square off in different constituencies seeking a ticket to represent the party in the upcoming general elections.

"The party resolved that all aspiring candidates irrespective of their positions within the party structures will go through the democratic processes of confirmation and primary elections," said the party in a statement.

Spokesman Douglas Mwonzora added that the primary election process will take about two weeks to conclude.

"We are obviously putting an allowance for possibilities of re-runs or redoing certain things, but two weeks should be enough," Mwonzora added.

Popular radio personality Ezra Tshisa Sibanda is one of the candidates who made it through to the MDC-T primary process.

Sibanda, who will contest in Vhungu, Midlands Province, told VOA his objective is to bring development to his constituency if he makes it to parliament.

"I'm so confident that I will win," he said. "I need people from Zanu-PF and the other MDC to vote for me, even when I win I will embrace everybody. This is morden politics."