We are not holding primary elections says Busha #ElectionsZW
Freezim Congress leader Joseph Makamba Busha has indicated that his political party will not be holding primary elections.
Busha’s revelation comes at a time when some political parties have started candidate selection processes ahead of proclamation.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to announce the date for the 2023 general election anytime soon.
This has seen the ruling party Zanu PF conducting its primary elections a few weeks ago. Nelson Chamisa‘s led Citizens Coalition for Change also followed suit last week.
In an interview, South Africa-based businessman-cum politician said they would finish their candidate selection process mid of May although they will not hold primary elections.
“We are not running primaries unless two candidates are equally strong and claim to have a better chance. The process will be finished by the end of May, he said.
Many opposition parties dumping primary elections
Freezing Congress joins a host of opposition parties that have dumped primary elections as a means of choosing their candidates.
LEAD president Linda Masarira told OpenParlyZW that her party would not conduct primary elections because they are toxic and bring division to the party.
She said they will use consensus to select their candidates.
Controversial politician Tendai Peter Munyanduri who fronts the NIMF is also on record highlighting that they will use an internal party process and not primary elections.
Primary elections have largely been viewed as a democratic way of choosing candidates in Zimbabwe. This is despite the fact that in some political parties, they have been toxic and have resulted in fierce violence.
In Zanu PF, the recent primary elections have claimed the scalp of some of the party’s bigwigs.
It is also not clear whether the recent Gold Mafia Documentary by Al Jazeera which exposed a lot of Zanu PF-linked people’s involvement in gold smuggling will affect its candidates’ lists. Scott Sakupwanya who is Zanu PF candidate is set to feature in episode 4 which will be coming out soon.
We are not holding primary elections says Busha #ElectionsZW
