POLITICAL renegades from both the ruling Zanu PF party and
opposition MDC Alliance have until 4pm today to withdraw their candidatures or
face sanctions.
Following controversial and disputed primary elections in
both Zanu PF and the opposition MDC Alliance, a litany of independent
candidates emerged and led to double nominations.
According to a statement from the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (Zec), candidates who wish to withdraw their names have until end of
business today to do so or else their names will appear on the ballot paper.
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission wishes to advise all
candidates who were duly nominated as candidates for the harmonised election of
2018 and who intend to withdraw their candidature to do so in terms of section
49(2) of the Electoral Act by Friday 22, June 2018,” Zec said.
While Zanu PF had sorted the mess it had created in Mazowe
North, after Mashonaland Central provincial minister Martin Dinha — who had
filed as a party candidate along with Campion Mugweni — withdrew his name on
Wednesday, the situation looks dire for the opposition despite an ultimatum
from its presidential candidate Nelson
Chamisa.
In Zanu PF, former Mines minister Walter Chidakwa (Zvimba
South), Biata Nyamupinga (Goromonzi West) and Zalerah Makari (Epworth) join the
list of those who filed papers as independent candidates alleging vote-rigging
in party internal polls and the party’s secretary for administration Obert
Mpofu indicated early this week that these have automatically expelled
themselves.
Others were Darlington Chiwa (Chiredzi West), Pascal
Mudzikisi (Masvingo North) and Michael Taderera (Masvingo Urban).
On the other hand, in Chamisa’s MDC Alliance, it emerged
yesterday that many of the independents’ nomination papers were reportedly
signed by his close
MDC-T lieutenants, leading to double nominations in a
number of constituencies.
MDC Alliance national chairman Morgen Komichi also demanded
that all independent candidates and those that had been nominated
“unprocedurally” walk away from the campaign trail.
Until yesterday, it was unclear if anyone had withdrawn
from the race.
Efforts to get a comment from both parties drew blanks.
Newsday
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