The opposition MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora has disputed remarks made over the weekend by its national chairperson, Morgen Komichi, who said the party will contest upcoming by-elections after boycotting all by-elections held after 26 March 2022.
Komichi told an online publication that the party had fielded representatives in all the vacant wards. He was quoted as saying:
This time around we are going to take part in the upcoming by-elections. We have already identified through consensus our candidates. We are urging Zimbabweans to vote for the MDC-T.
However, in a statement released on Monday, MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube refuted Komichi’s comments saying the party’s position on by-elections has not changed. Dube said:
The MDC’s position on by-elections remains that we will not be participating in any by-election until after our current restructuring exercise and congress preparations are completed.
A report by an online newspaper on the 31st of October 2022 suggesting that we will be participating in the upcoming by-elections is not the correct party position but simply statements attributable to our National Chairperson Morgen Komichi.
Following the 26 March by-elections in which the MDC-T failed to win a single seat, the party’s leadership took a decision not to participate in any future by-elections.
Ten (10) local authority by-elections will be held on 3 December 2022. In Binga, the by-elections will be held in Wards 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 23 while in Gweru the elections are set for Wards 4, 5 and 18. In Victoria Falls, Ward 8 will have by-elections. | NewZimbabwe.com