MDC-T Youth leader, Solomon Madzore’s intentions to run for the Dzivaresekwa Parliamentary seat have split the party’s district structures, as jostling for the sole ticket to represent the party in the next election intensifies.
BY CHRISTOPHER MAHOVE
The district is reportedly split into two groups, one which is pushing for a “local” candidate with a grasp of the constituency’s problems, with the other supporting Madzore’s candidature.
The anti-Madzore camp is arguing that the constituency has been lagging behind in terms of development because it has been represented by people from other areas.
“We are definitely disgruntled that an area as big as Dzivaresekwa does not have the freedom to choose its own representatives and always has expatriates imposed on them. An area like this requires someone who is domiciled in the constituency, as they would have influence on the voters,” said one senior district executive member, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He said the imposition of candidates from outside the constituency had contributed to voter apathy, as the electorate was not happy with the performance of previous MPs, who were not from Dzivaresekwa. “Since 2000, the figures of people who voted for the party has gone down from 13 000 to just 6 000 in 2008,” said the MDC-T official. “This is because there has been a general outcry over the imposition of candidates who are not from the area.”
Another district executive member said he was prepared to stand as an independent candidate should Madzore win the party’s ticket to contest the constituency. “If he has extra cash to spend, he should go and spend it in Glen View or Westgate where he stays. we cannot be fooled by the cheap projects he is dicing for the gullible youths here,” he said.
But Madzore could neither confirm nor deny that he was vying for the Dzivaresekwa constituency. “What I know is that we are obviously going to have youths standing in a number of constituencies, but it is too early. I don’t know yet [where I will contest]. I don’t know what the people will say” he said.
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Madzore dismissed complaints by some members of the district structures, saying those were scared of competition.
“To talk of imported candidates is a political statement by someone trying to protect their turf, but it is what the people want and no one should deny the people what they want. that is democracy,” he said.
Madzore said projects running in the area were initiated by the youth assembly.
“People find it hard to differentiate between the Youth Assembly and Solo Madzore, but the party is bigger than Solo Madzore. The Youth Assembly is rolling out a number of projects throughout the country,” he said.
