MDC to contest for senate seats

MDC to contest for senate seats

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By Valentine Maponga

THE opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says it will take part in the Senate polls due to be held in December.

Professor Welshman Ncube, the MDC secretary-general told the privately owned Standard newspaper that there were differences in circumstances leading to the Senate elections and the 31 March Parliamentary elections.

"There are fundamental differences between the March Parliamentary elections and the position we are in right now. It is very clear that the national council lifted the suspension on election participation and that position has not changed. The operative resolution of the council is that we are in the elections," Ncube said.

Ncube dismissed claims of divisions within the opposition party adding that having different views over certain issues does not mean that people are divided.

"It is very democratic to have differing views so that we debate and try and convince those with contrary views why we think the other view is better and important. Right now we are encouraging the people to go and register," he said.
By participating in the elections other opposition MPs fear that they might be legitimising the ruling Zanu PF and its policies.

Paul Themba Nyathi, the MDC spokesperson said: "There are a lot of things that we do that have been misconstrued as legitimising the government, yet it is not true. Anyone is entitled to arrive at his or her conclusion but the ultimate decision on whether the party should participate or not must come from within the party structures."

MDC chief whip Innocent Gonese said they needed to be satisfied first on the merits and demerits of participating in the Senate race as a party and thus the need to consult.

"We need to satisfy ourselves first that we are making the right decision by participating in those elections and that is why we are going through the consultation process. But you should always know that our party is always prepared for any elections that may come our way," Gonese said.

But analysts told The Standard that failure by the MDC to make an early announcement on their participation in major elections showed lack of a clear political strategy.

They warned that the delay could act in Zanu PF's favour in the forthcoming Senate elections, because the ruling party had intensified its campaign.
Elections for the 66-member Senate are scheduled to be held before the end of the year.

John Makumbe, a political analyst and lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said: "They shouldn't have participated in the 31 March elections but now that they are in Parliament, it would not make sense for them to ignore the coming elections. The Senate will be part of them since the two houses would supposedly work together in the business of making laws, for as long as they sit in Parliament."

Eldred Masunungure, another lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said the delay by the MDC in reaching a decision was going to cost them a number of seats should they decide to participate.

"If the MDC decides not to participate, it would be a giant step backwards. The opposition needs to learn from past experiences and it is very evident that they lost a number of seats during the March Parliamentary elections because of the late announcement that they would contest the elections," Masunungure said.

Patrick Chinamasa, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, last week confirmed that the Senate elections would be held before the end of the year.

"Democracy is an expensive process and there is no ideal time for it to happen. We are going to conduct Senate elections by mid- December and those who can't make decisions now have themselves to blame," Chinamasa said - Standard
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