MDC Alliance woes mount . . . MDC-T supporters threaten to boycott polls in Mazowe North

MDC-T members in Mashonaland Central Province are up in arms with their leadership over its decision to reserve Mazowe North constituency for Transform Zimbabwe, one of its MDC-T Alliance partners.

The disgruntled membership is arguing that the constituency is an MDC-T stronghold and if the issue is not addressed they will not bother to vote in the forthcoming harmonised elections.

The discord in the alliance came to light after the constituency failed to hold primary elections following the endorsement of TZ candidate Mr Tinashe Muchenje.

In an interview, MDC-T provincial chairman Mr George Gwarada confirmed that the constituency had been allocated to Transform Zimbabwe.

He declined to comment on why a primary election was not held.

“I think on that issue, I will rather refer you to Transform Zimbabwe and I understand that they may have their own systems of doing things,” said Mr Gwarada.

The coalition has unanimously endorsed other opposition parties in specific constituencies in principle of the Alliance’s democracy and in a statement, MDC-T provincial spokesperson, Mr Isaac Mupinyuri said the idea of a coalition was beyond party politics.

“MDC-T is part of a coalition and what it means is that discussions made by the leadership are the ones which affect what is on the ground,” he said.

“A coalition is in favour of the structure, not the candidate and what is on the ground is what is supposed to be. Yes, disgruntlements might be there, but they are uncalled for since the same candidate will be under the Alliance.”

Mr Mupinyuri further confirmed that in certain circumstances the Alliance was not holding primary elections if they agree on a candidate.

“Primary elections are being held, but there is a time when people can agree on a candidate after a consensus on who among the candidates might have better chances of winning,” he said.

“However, since Mazowe North was awarded to TZ, it is a TZ thing.”

Efforts to get a comment from TZ’s leadership were fruitless at the time of going to print.