BRIBERY demands by high-ranking MDC party officials on
prospective candidates resulted in the opposition fielding more than one
candidate in some constituencies and council seats, in the run-up to last
year’s polls.
This was revealed during a provincial caucus meeting in
Bulawayo on Monday, where the opposition party’s aspiring executive council
candidates were campaigning ahead of congress later this month.
The party last year had double nominations in some areas, a
development most people claimed contributed to its poor showing in several
constituencies across the country, where its aggregate votes outstripped
eventual winners from the ruling Zanu PF party.
Gabbuza Joel Gabuza, vying for the chairman’s post, claimed
there were people asking for money for votes.
“When I was nominated, I only got one nomination, but
people started calling me saying can you please give us some money in exchange
for nomination. I said no, I will not do that,” he said.
“As a chairman, if you do that, people become untouchable
and you will not be able to discipline them. If you accept money, you become
compromised. Double candidates are a result of corruption.”
MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora was grilled on his
plans if given a second mandate to run the office, with some party members
accusing him of being involved in the double nomination of candidates.
But Mwonzora brushed aside the accusations and vowed to
stay loyal to party leader Nelson Chamisa, and ensure the party will never
split.
“What is important is the relationship between the
president and secretary-general. If I am not happy, I go to the office of the
president. We are close to each other and deal with the disputes,” he said.
“That’s why I have been secretary-general under our late
icon Morgan Tsvangirai. There was no split, I have been secretary-general under
our president Chamisa, there was no split and there will be no split because we
know how to deal with disputes in a mature way.”
Party members also accused Mwonzora of having a hand in the
recent High Court judgment which declared Chamisa as an illegitimate party
leader.
“Zanu PF killed our people, killed our industries and our
economy, we have to remove this government. That is our main objective,” Mwonzora said.
MDC vice-chairman aspirant Job Sikhala said: “There are
people who want to personalise the president because they come from the same
village; that is what I will stop. I will take the president from the pockets
of those who want to personalise our president and will give him back to the
people.” Newsday
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