‘Double candidates’ haunt MDCA

CHAOS is reigning in the MDC-Alliance ahead of Monday’s elections following the refusal by two party renegades to heed exhortations to stand down in two constituencies where the beleaguered party has double candidates.

Initially, the Alliance had double candidates in six constituencies across Masvingo province, but the problem was resolved in four constituencies, leaving Masvingo West and Zaka West with two parliamentary candidates each from the MDC Alliance.

Early this month, MDC Alliance president Mr Nelson Chamisa reportedly read the riot act to party members who had defied his party’s directive to stand down in constituencies with double candidates. In Zaka West, the Alliance failed to convince Mr William Zivenge to stand down and make way for Mr Festus Dumbu who has his party’s blessings to contest the parliamentary seat. This means the two MDC Alliance candidates will slug it out with Zanu- PF’s Cde Ophias Murambiwa and three other candidates in Monday’s poll.

The situation is the same in Masvingo West where former MDC-T National Assembly member Mr Tachiona Mharadze chose to stand as an independent parliamentary candidate in protest over his party’s decision to anoint Mrs Rosewita Madzivire as the official candidate.

The two will face Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chair Cde Ezra Chadzamira, MDC-T Khupe’s Mr Thomas Masvose and five other candidates.

Mr Zivenge yesterday vowed to hang on until he gets a word to the contrary from Mr Tendai Biti, who is a co-principal in the MDC Alliance.