MDC not worried by early senate poll date

By Lance Guma
10 October 2005

The MDC have said they are not worried by the early date for senate polls announced by government on Saturday. With the party’s National Council meetingWednesday to decide whether to field candidates or not, the setting of November 26 as election day is being viewed as a ploy by Zanu PF to exploit the perceived indecision by the MDC.

Secretary for Information and Publicity Paul Themba Nyathi says Zanu PF never does anything in good faith and concedes there is probably a reason for them selecting the date announced. The Gutu North by-election also takes place on the same day. This follows the death of Retired Chief Air Marshal Josiah Tungamirai who died in August this year.

The opposition party has already made preparations for the parliamentary by-election saying their machinery was already in place and they would contest this particular election. It’s the senate polls which remain the sticking point, with party leader Morgan Tsvangirai having made clear his opposition to participating.

Various media reports had suggested a split between Tsvangirai and party Secretary General Welshman Ncube but this has been dismissed as untrue.
Nyathi says it is the hallmark of a democracy to allow for consultations and differing views and the party should be commended for following this route.