Madhuku: Referendum Voting Trends Trouble Signal For MDC
Jonga Kandemiiri
WASHINGTON DC —
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairman Lovemore Madhuku says political parties participating in this year’s general election must take seriously the voting trends of the just-ended constitutional referendum.
Mr. Madhuku said the outcome of the constitutional referendum may have a bearing on the outcome of the crucial polls.
Speaking in Harare on Tuesday evening at an event hosted by a non-profit organization, Sapes Trust, the NCA chairman said the yes voters turned out in large numbers in perceived Zanu-PF strongholds in the rural areas.
He assumed that some of the people who voted in cities regarded as strongholds of the Movement for Democratic Change, may be unregistered voters, a development he thinks could have a direct bearing on the outcome of the general election.
Zanu-PF was represented by Godwills Maisimirembwa at the event while Finance Minister Tendai Biti represented the MDC formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Masimirembwa said the referendum voting patterns point to a Zanu-PF win in the next election but Mr. Biti insisted that the majority of the people who voted yes are MDC-T supporters.
Over three million people voted during the constitutional referendum.
Madhuku said the purpose of Tuesday night’s discussion was to analyse voting patterns so that parties will take the necessary action before the polls.
