By Bulawayo Correspondent

THE two MDC Alliance parliamentary candidates for Bulawayo South constituency have defied a leadership directive to reach a consensus between themselves on who should represent the coalition in Monday’s election.

The opposition coalition is fielding Engineer Francis Mangwendeza and Kunashe Muchemwa in the constituency.

Speaking at a recent rally in Bulawayo, alliance leader Nelson Chamisa gave the two rivals an ultimatum to resolve the issue.

“I have noticed that there are two aspiring candidates in one of the constituencies,” he said.

“What is happening? Listen to me; there should be one candidate only so that people cannot be confused.

“Between the two of you with the assistance of district party officials you must sit down and then agree on who is the legitimate candidate.”

Despite Chamisa’s directive Muchemwa and Mangwendeza have not been able to resolve the impasse which is likely to benefit contestants from other political parties.

“We have not been able to resolve the Bulawayo South issue.

“Two candidates from the Alliance are contesting in that constituency,” Gift Banda, Bulawayo provincial chairperson for the Chamisa-led MDC told NewZimbabwe.com.

On Saturday, Mangwendeza held a road show in the constituency ahead of the elections while Muchemwa was also on the road distributing campaign materials.

Muchemwa has reportedly been on the run after Bulawayo magistrate Sithembile Ncube issued a warrant of arrest against him.

This was after he absconded the court where he was convicted for public violence together with three other activists.

On the day the four convicts were supposed to be sentenced Muchemwa failed to appear in court leading to the magistrate postponing the case.

The judge was however, left with no choice but to sentience the other three convicts to community service after Muchemwa failed to attend court for the second time.