The voters, who were commenting on the rejection of outgoing MPs, want capable and dedicated political office bearers with a good reputation who are ready to work with the grassroots.
According to the outcome of the MDC- T primary elections, 17 sitting members of parliament lost to their contenders.
In Chitungwiza, only one sitting Member of Parliament, Alexio Musundire from Zengeza East, was confirmed by party supporters, while Fidelis Mhashu (Chitungwiza North), Colin Gwiyo (Zengeza West), Misheck Shoko (Chitungwiza South) and Marvelous Khumalo (St Marys) all lost out in the party’s primaries.
In other constituencies such as Chinhoyi, Budiriro, Highfield West, Highfield East and West, Sunningdale, Gweru Central, Murehwa and Hurungwe West, among others, sitting MPs lost in the party’s primaries.
In Hurungwe West, the party’s provincial organising secretary, Wilson Makanyaire, trounced sitting MP, Severino Chambati, after he garnered 3,200 votes against the incumbent’s 115.
Several supporters who spoke to The Zimbabwean in Chitungwiza North and South expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of sitting MPs.
Fanuel Ndengu said: “Deserving candidates do not show up at election time with empty promises; they deliver during their tenure of office. Voters are wary of such people and we do not tolerate them.”
In Ward 24, one party supporter only identified as Donald, said the politicians did not win the hearts of the electorate after failing to exhibit good leadership skills during their tenure of office.
“Parliamentarians are the people’s mouth pieces in parliament. When political office bearers fail to champion the grievances of the people who elected them into office, it becomes a challenge for the electorate to re-elect them.”
Beauty Gwanyandu said most members of parliament did not deliver on the promises they made when they assumed office.
“We cannot have leadership renewal from Zanu (PF) just for the sake of it. We want competent people in leadership positions.”
Other MDC- T supporters, however, alleged that there was massive vote buying and rigging orchestrated by the party’s election directorate in favor of the winning candidates.
One woman, only identified as Nyota, accused the party’s election directorate of fraud and said there were gross disparities between the voters’ register that was presented from the party’s headquarters, Harvest House, and what the district chairpersons had compiled.
“There was foul play because the people from this constituency voted for our leader, Shoko,” she said.
Ousted MP, Misheck Shoko, expressed dissatisfaction with how the party’s election directorate conducted the elections.
“I have a problem with the way the elections were conducted. People who were not even in our structures were bussed in from I do not know where and they voted. That was fraud and vote rigging,” he said.
Post published in: News