The party said all aspiring candidates should start campaigning after the presidential proclamation announcing the date of the sitting of the nomination court or unless directed by the party’s national council.
According to the party Secretary General, Tendai Biti, the decision to ban aspiring candidates from campaigning was made following complaints from sitting MPs and councillors that aspiring candidates were already campaigning, causing friction within the party.
In a letter dated February 27, Biti said those campaigning would be breaching the party’s rules and regulations guiding the selection of candidates.
According to Biti the party’s national elections directorate has been mandated to deal with such issues and has been empowered to suspend and disqualify any candidate who is in breach of the party’s rules and regulations.
Sources within the party said underground lobbying and campaigning had plunged the party into administrative chaos.
Some have said the move by Biti is undemocratic as it is meant to protect sitting councilors and members of parliament.
“This is very undemocratic and we are going to voice our concern over this move because it is meant to protect those who already have seats,” said an aspiring MP who requested anonymity.
The MDC-T claims that it has received over 4,500 applications from aspiring candidates wishing to represent the party as either councillors or MPs in the forthcoming elections.
Post published in: News