…five-year threshold raises eyebrows
…independent candidates shut out
Upenyu
Chaota
It is all systems go for the MDC Alliance 2019
congress as its guiding template which spells out the rules of the game has
been released with many questions being raised on the five-year membership
limit to enable members to contest from ward to national posts.
congress as its guiding template which spells out the rules of the game has
been released with many questions being raised on the five-year membership
limit to enable members to contest from ward to national posts.
According to the template, a candidate is eligible to
contest for any position from ward up to national levels if they have served in
the party for at least five years while branches have a minimum of two years.
contest for any position from ward up to national levels if they have served in
the party for at least five years while branches have a minimum of two years.
This clause has raised many questions on the fate of
those who joined the alliance from other opposition political parties but party
spokesperson Jacob Mafume defended the move saying it was done to plug
infiltration.
those who joined the alliance from other opposition political parties but party
spokesperson Jacob Mafume defended the move saying it was done to plug
infiltration.
“The five-year period does not shut anyone out. We are
not saying five years with the MDC but five years serving in their former
parties before they joined the alliance.
not saying five years with the MDC but five years serving in their former
parties before they joined the alliance.
“We do not want people without any history to come and
contest for posts because we want to avoid infiltration. We know there are people
who want to sneak into our processes but we will not let them get away with
it,” said Mafume.
contest for posts because we want to avoid infiltration. We know there are people
who want to sneak into our processes but we will not let them get away with
it,” said Mafume.
Asked what would happen to former Zanu PF members and
those that joined the alliance from parties that are not yet five-years-old,
Mafume said the congress will not shut out genuine members.
those that joined the alliance from parties that are not yet five-years-old,
Mafume said the congress will not shut out genuine members.
“The congress is not there to shut anyone out. We all
have a history in politics and we will look into that before we let people run
for positions,” said Mafume.
have a history in politics and we will look into that before we let people run
for positions,” said Mafume.
The MDC Alliance congress is going to start at branch
level with all branches across the country going for the polls between March 22
and March 24 while districts will vote between March 29 and March 31.
level with all branches across the country going for the polls between March 22
and March 24 while districts will vote between March 29 and March 31.
Provincial congresses will be done between April 5 and
April 27 setting the stage for the national congress to be held from May 24 to May
26.
April 27 setting the stage for the national congress to be held from May 24 to May
26.
“If
for any reason, one stood as an independent candidate, they are automatically
disqualified from contesting and participating in the congress processes.
for any reason, one stood as an independent candidate, they are automatically
disqualified from contesting and participating in the congress processes.
“Candidates will be
disqualified if they promote factionalism or if they campaign as a slate.
Malicious gossiping is strictly prohibited,” the template reads.
disqualified if they promote factionalism or if they campaign as a slate.
Malicious gossiping is strictly prohibited,” the template reads.
It prohibits members
from campaigning in provinces where they do not reside except for national
positions.
from campaigning in provinces where they do not reside except for national
positions.
“No one is allowed to
campaign in a province where they do not come from except for national
positions.
campaign in a province where they do not come from except for national
positions.
All candidates shall be
given a formal platform (caucuses) at various levels to present their
credentials and programmes as justification for suitability to be office
holders.
given a formal platform (caucuses) at various levels to present their
credentials and programmes as justification for suitability to be office
holders.
“Districts shall
convene caucuses for provincial candidates to present their manifestos.
Provinces shall convene caucuses for national candidates to present their
manifestos. The youth assembly shall convene a youth caucuses for candidates,”
reads the template.
convene caucuses for provincial candidates to present their manifestos.
Provinces shall convene caucuses for national candidates to present their
manifestos. The youth assembly shall convene a youth caucuses for candidates,”
reads the template.
On the national
nomination procedure, the templates states that, “The nomination process for
national positions shall be presided over by an Independent Board appointed by
National Executive.
nomination procedure, the templates states that, “The nomination process for
national positions shall be presided over by an Independent Board appointed by
National Executive.
“For one to be elected
he /she must have at least have one nomination from Province to National. According
to the constitution there are 13 provinces in the party, 10 in Zimbabwe and 3
outside Zimbabwe.”
he /she must have at least have one nomination from Province to National. According
to the constitution there are 13 provinces in the party, 10 in Zimbabwe and 3
outside Zimbabwe.”
The party’s security department will do the vetting
process working with the organising department.
process working with the organising department.
