Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has decided against holding primary elections to select candidates for the 2023 elections opting for members to recommend suitable candidates.
The country is set to hold its 2023 elections and currently waiting for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to proclaim the election date.
In an interview with CITE, MRP leader Mqondisi Moyo said party structures are responsible for identifying and recommending individuals to represent the party in local authorities and parliament.
“While my party does not underrate primary elections, we are currently not in a position to conduct these the same way other parties, ZANU PF, in particular, is doing it. However, this doesn’t mean that leadership impose candidates on the people,” said Moyo.
“Candidates are selected by means of recommendation by the concerned structures. The people in the structures identify and recommend individuals for candidature, be it in Local Government or Parliament”.
He said the role of leadership in this equation is simply to endorse the recommended candidate.
Moyo said so far, the party has not experienced any cases of double candidates in one ward.
“We are fortunate in that there have not been cases where disputes arise due to multiplicity of candidates for a single constituency or ward. I strongly believe that this is because of the spirit of revolution by which our people are engulfed. Mthwakazi people are more concerned with defending their territory than by office occupation. This is why harmony and unity of purpose is prevailing. So, this is our own version of primary elections,” he said.
He added that regarding the fielding of candidates, they have constituencies and wards that candidates have already covered.
“We still have some though, that are still in the process of identifying representatives. Very soon we shall be having representatives for each constituency,” said Moyo.
The opposition party boycotted the by-elections choosing to canvass for support ahead of the 2023 polls.
