Mwonzora-led MDC Alliance Won't Contest In Any By-election
The opposition MDC Alliance led by Senator Douglas Mwonzora has resolved not to contest any by-elections saying it would only contest the 2023 general elections.
MDC Alliance which failed to register a single win in the just ended by-elections has not fielded a candidate for the Masvingo West, ward 21, by-election set for June 25.
The seat fell vacant following the death of ZANU PF councillor Tinago Mupinga on March 24.
The three candidates nominated for the June 25 by-elections are ZANU PF’s Chenjerai Mumbire, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)‘s Onias Mawarire and Sister Nhando, an independent candidate.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission(ZEC) chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana confirmed the by-election.
Political analysts told NewsDay that Mwonzora’s party was avoiding further embarrassment.
Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said:
If they are going by empirical evidence of past performance, their instinct is that they are not fielding until they get their numbers correct. But that is the wrong strategy because if you don’t contest then you are exposing your weaknesses.
Another political analyst Effie Ncube echoed Ngwenya’s sentiments saying MDC Alliance was no match to the Nelson Chamisa-led CCC party adding that people opposed to the ruling ZANU PF had moved from MDC to CCC.
