In the MDC-T election template, all the the
seats are up for grabs. The party has set stringent requirements
for those aspiring to represent it in the coming elections.
Among some of the requirements are that all aspiring candidates must
have been with the party for the past five consecutive years, they must be able to read and write and they must declare all assets they have.
Must live locally
Candidates should own or occupy property in
the area in which they want to represent the party.

For local government candidates, they all should be paying rates to the
local authority in which they want to contest .
According to documents in the possession of The Zimbabwean, all
aspiring candidates should submit their application forms on or before January 31.
There are no seats reserved for
youths or women, except in the senate where women will be given first
priority.
Battling it out
In
Masvingo, several aspiring candidates were trying
to canvass support over the weekend. In Masvingo urban, sitting member of parliament, Tongai Matutu, is
likely to square off with Masvingo city council workers’ committee
chairman, Bonface Mazarire, in party primary elections. Matutu has been
MP of the constituency for two terms and is seeking his third term in
parliament.
In Zaka, central sitting MP, Harrison Mudzuri, is likely to face
businessman, Wilson Urayayi. In Masvingo central, sitting MP, Jefreyson
Chitando, is reported to have abandoned his constituency and is now
seeking a senatorial post for Masvingo.
Chitando will battle it out with Lucia Masekesa, Josphine Kujinga, and
Benson Mugabe. The Masvingo mayoral seat will be fought between sitting mayor
Alderman Femias Chakabuda, party provincial chairman, Wilstaf Sitemere,
and former Masvingo urban district chairperson, Charles Charirwe.
In Masvingo north, a seat which was held by the late higher and
tertiary education minister Stan Mudenge might be contested by MDC-T’s Gibson Murinye. In Gutu south, Aleck Musendekwa and district chairman, Amos Mudefi,
will square off to take the post left vacant following the death of Eliphas Mukonoweshuro.
Other MDC-T MPs whose future in parliament hangs in the balance are
Ernest Mudavanhu (Zaka North), Tachiona Mharadze (Masvingo West),
Jefreyson Chitando (Masvingo central), Oliver Chirume (Gutu Central),
Edmore Hamandishe Maramwidze(Gutu North) and Edmore Marima (Bikita
East).
MDC-T officials in Masvingo confirmed the developments but refused to
shed more light on the issue, saying the document leaked to the media was confidential and they could not publicly comment on it.
Post published in: News