We don’t believe in primary elections; they are toxic says Linda Masarira #ElectionsZW
By Fanuel Chadzera
Labour Economist and African Democrats (LEAD) president Linda Masarira says her party does not believe in holding primary elections. She said they have an internal process for choosing candidates.
The revelation by Masarira comes at a time when political parties in the country, led by Zanu PF have embarked on primary elections to choose candidates that will represent them in the impending 2023 general elections.
Zimbabwe is expected to hold general elections sometime between July and August this year.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is close to proclaiming the election date, as various pre-election processes such as delimitation have been concluded.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is currently conducting the last voter registration blitz before the polls.
In an interview, Masarira said the party is seized with the candidates selection process and there will be no primary elections.
Primary Elections Are Toxic, says Masarira
She primary elections are toxic and usually divide political parties, adding that they have their own template.
‘’Why do people in Zimbabwe expect other political parties to follow what other political parties do? We have got our own code of conduct and our own way of doing things and that must be respected.
‘’We do not believe in primary elections because they are toxic, they divide the party, they can divide the people hence we created a platform for people to be able to agree on consensus if we have more than two people who put their applications for the same post in the same constituency.
‘’That is what we believe in, we believe in togetherness, we believe in dialogue, and we believe in the unity of purpose in everything that we do as a political party.
‘’We are actually processing candidates’ applications right now and wherever there are more than two they will agree mutually between themselves by consensus,’’ she said.
However, it appears that LEAD is not the only political party that does not conduct primary elections, as New Innovative and Modernisation Front (NIMF) leader Tendai Peter Munyanduri highlighted the same
According to Munyanduri, candidates in his political party are appointed by the National Supreme Council.
“Thank you for the question! We do not do primary elections!
“National Supreme Council appoints candidates based on educational attainments profiled from grade one in terms of quantity & quality of education among those interested,” he said.
Munyanduri in his party prefers educated candidates, especially engineers, and has no kind words for lawyers.
We don’t believe in primary elections; they are toxic says Linda Masarira #ElectionsZW
