MDC accepts election date

The Sunday News

By Lulu Brenda Harris

16 June 2013

THE MDC led by Professor Welshman Ncube has accepted the 31 July harmonised election date set by President Mugabe and is now raring to go. The party, now finalising its candidate list for the watershed polls, is one of the parties which expressed discontent with the election date, arguing that polls could not be held sooner than August.

However, in an about turn, Prof Ncube said although the election date “came as a thief”, they always knew the polls would catch up with them and have to contest in order to remain relevant.

This position differs from that of MDC-T which has threatened to boycott the elections.

Addressing party structures at a district assembly meeting in Tsholotsho last Thursday, Prof Ncube said there was no option but to comply with the date set by President Mugabe.

He said the party had grievances but ultimately, MDC was in the electoral race and would contest.

“The President has set the date. If Sadc fails to tell him otherwise, then we will go for the polls. It doesn’t matter anymore, we have to be in,” the party leader said.

Prof Ncube said MDC knew elections would be held this year even if the date was contentious.

He likened the impending elections to a biblical verse saying Jesus was coming but no one knew when, yet everyone had to prepare for judgement.

“Now, the race has started. The elections are upon us so we should finish what we started,” he said.

In Tsholotsho North, MDC has 14 councillor candidates, two candidates contesting for House of Assembly seats while in Tsholotsho South there are 17 candidates vying for the council seats.

Prof Ncube said there was no time to waste, as he told candidates to prepare their documentation in time for the Nomination Court that would sit on 28 June, which is two weeks from now.

“We have to be organised. All the candidates without proper documentation should make sure they fix that on time. As I said the elections are here. I am tired of hearing media reports that Prof Welshman Ncube is the leader of the smaller MDC. After elections it should be Prof Welshman Ncube, leader of MDC – the ruling party,” he said.

MDC, like the trend with other political parties, has resorted to door to door campaigns in the hope of getting closer to the people to garner more supporters.

Echoing Prof Ncube’s sentiments, MDC secretary for legal affairs, Senator David Coltart, who was speaking at the Bulawayo Press Club last Thursday night, said from his point of view, elections were around the corner hence there was no time to implement reforms, which were outstanding.

He said this in response to queries why there was talk of an election date and parties now seemed quiet about the reforms they had been clamouring for.

Sen Coltart said clearly there was no time, and the reforms would not be implemented.