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MDC still divided over polls
24/10/2005 13:39 - (SA)
Harare - Candidates hoping to stand in Zimbabwe's controversial senate elections were due to register in special nomination courts on Monday, but it was still not clear whether members of the main opposition party would also try to put their names down.
A spokesperson for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai said at the weekend the party had decided to boycott the November 26 polls. But several top party officials still want to participate.
Victor Moyo, an MDC official in the southern city of Bulawayo, said party members in his province had nominated 12 potential senators and were "raring to go", the state-controlled Herald said.
But other MDC officials were cited as saying members "were fully behind Mr Tsvangirai's boycott stance", the paper added.
The MDC leader is strongly opposed to participation in the new senate, charging that Zimbabwe's current electoral system "breeds illegitimate outcomes".
But those in favour of participation say they do not want to cede more political ground to the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union -Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party. Analysts say the MDC is heading for a split over the issue.
State radio said ZANU-PF had already selected all its candidates for the senate elections.
"Candidates are expected to be 40 years and above, and should be registered voters. They should also be citizens of Zimbabwe and ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe," the radio added. - Sapa-dpa
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