It was evident from the time of submission of expressions of interest to represent the Mainstream MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai in the July 31 2013 that candidate selection was going to be a nightmare because of the huge response to the invitation of applications. I must have done myself a favour by letting the opportunity pass when an application form was emailed to me by someone who thought I had what it takes to be a legislator.
Not that I doubted myself, but I thought to myself I had not done enough home work to survive the primary elections, having been out of the country and largely out of touch with the membership at the grassroots level. I told myself to let go. After all, one does not have to be a in parliament, or in any position for that matter, to contribute to the country's development.
While the MDC will be commended for conducting the primary elections in the first place, the squabbles that are taking place in some constituencies are evidence that the primary elections process needs to be improved in the future, especially in terms of forward planning. The double candidates in Dangamvura-Chikanga parliamentary constituency and the registration of a few independent candidates in some constituencies after some candidates felt cheated in the primary elections are a case in point.
The situation is worsened by the late coalition arrangement which include Dr. Simba Makoni's Mavambo resulting in Dr. Simba Makoni, who had registered himself on his party's ticket, being the MDC leadership's preferred candidate for Makoni Central Constituency ahead of Patrick Sagandira who had registered on the MDC ticket before the coalition was announced.
It should be expected, therefore, that Sagandira would easily withdraw his candidature. Both men have a role to play in a free Zimbabwe ; hence I believe they should both be given the space to prove themselves. The same, in my opinion, should apply to other constituencies where because of differences could not be resolved by the time of registration, hence there are double candidates or independence candidates who could not be talked into withdrawing within the legally stipulated time frame.
What all these candidates should know is that they have an equal chance to win if they campaign for the popular Presidential candidate, and sell themselves to the electorate. In my opinion, more time should be spent exposing Mugabe and winning people from Zanu PF rather than spend time engaging in efforts to persuade any one who has registered as a candidate for any office to pave way for another candidate, unless if someone's conscience tells them they have to do so, remembering of cause that everyone has a role to play in a free Zimbabwe.
Post published in: Letters to the Editor