The party’s secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora, told a rally in Kwekwe over the weekend that his party had been given the first electronic copy of the voters’ roll by ZEC. “The regime has begun to comply with our demands. Recently, they (ZEC) gave us an electronic voters’ roll for the Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Mt Darwin constituencies. They informed us that they are in the process of compiling the voters’ rolls of other areas,” said Mwonzora.
“This is obviously a result of our sustained `No Reforms, No Elections’ campaign. ZEC also wrote a letter asking us to outline the reforms which we would want to see before we consider taking part in the elections and we have since responded to their request,” he added.
His party has boycotted the next round of by-elections in protest at the absence of electoral reform. If reforms continue, he said MDC-T could contest the next elections. “Throughout its history, the MDC has been underestimated and its electoral behaviour is cyclical. In 2000, it had 52 seats, in 2005 it had 41 seats, in 2008 it had 121 seats, in 2013 it has 91 seats now. In 2018, it is going to have more, if not 300 seats. That’s the behaviour of the MDC,” Mwonzora said.
He told supporters that Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa had no chance of winning a presidential election against MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, as the VP had twice lost dismally to Blessing Chebundo in Kwekwe constituency.
“He (Mnangagwa) could not even stand in elections against Chebundo. He was defeated twice and had to move to Chirumanzu-Zibagwe. Imagine what will happen if he is to face Tsvangirai,” Mwonzora said.
Addressing the same rally, MDC-T vice-chairman Morgan Komichi said the divisions in Zanu (PF) presented his party with a rare opportunity to rebuild. “We have to be united and focused so that we offer alternative and credible leadership for this country,” he said.
Post published in: News