The MDC has accepted that there is indiscipline in the party which may derail its chances of forming the next government.
This comes after the party fielded two candidates in the Cowdray Park by-election where it lost to ZANU PF. This is the first time that the MDC has lost the local government seat to ZANU PF since the year 2000.
Party president Nelson Chamisa vowed to take action so that such a scenario will not repeat itself. Said Chamisa:
The party agrees that there are lessons to be learnt and we assure the public that the elections directorate is compiling the observations, made and working on a plan to correct all the mistakes that the party made.
We also accept the concern on the fielding of double candidates and appreciate that it created confusion. However, the party would like to assure its supporters that it (fielding 2 candidates) will not happen again.
Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume, who is a councillor in Harare had this to say:
We, however, want to highlight that the times in which candidate selection was taking place also came with a hostile environment in respect of which targeted violence was being perpetrated on those mandated by the party to handle internal elections.
Some of them had their homes invaded while others were arrested. In fact, one of the venues of the primary elections was raided by the police, disrupting the process.
This may have resulted in challenges around candidate selection. The party will, however, do more to motivate the social base to defend our zones of autonomy because the figures reflect high levels of apathy, our supporters must be assured that solutions are being sought in this respect.
Related:
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Elias Mudzuri Moans Death Of Democracy In MDC, Vows To End It ‘Soon’
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Chamisa Spokesperson Claims Cowdray Park By-election Was Rigged
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Chamisa ‘Regrets’ Defeat In Cowdray Park By-election
More: NewZimbabwe.com