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Split MDC 'still very popular'
25/10/2005 16:12 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was split down the middle on Tuesday, a day after 26 of its supporters defied leader Morgan Tsvangirai by registering to stand in upcoming senate elections.
Twenty-six MDC candidates were approved in seven of the country's 10 provinces to stand in the November 26 poll.
Tsvangirai had called for an outright boycott of the election, saying it would be skewed in favour of President Robert Mugabe's ruling party.
Tsvangirai's spokesperson William Bango said the candidates would not receive support for their campaigns as they had breached party regulations.
Procedures 'not followed'
He said: "The MDC has specific candidate selection procedures that have stood the test of time. Those procedures were not followed.
"The party didn't nominate those candidates. The party is not going to campaign for them."
The six-year-old opposition party had been deeply divided over the issue of participation in elections.
Those in favour said the party had to prevent Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) from gaining more ground in parliament, where it already had a two-thirds majority.
'Illegitimate outcomes'
But, Tsvangirai said the MDC should not participate because Zimbabwe's electoral system "breeds illegitimate outcomes".
Party spokesperson Paul Themba Nyathi on Tuesday brushed aside Tsvangirai's criticism of the election candidates saying they were genuine party faithful.
He said: "My task now is to ensure that those candidates that have been selected receive adequate support and take Zanu-PF head on.
"That is where the battle against Zanu-PF is going to be."
The University of Zimbabwe's political science lecturer John Makumbe said that, despite differences among the party's leadership, the MDC's still enjoyed significant popular support.
'Grassroots is very solid'
Makumbe said: "It is unfortunate in that it has split the party in terms of the methodology of resolving the Zimbabwe crisis", while maintaining "the grassroots is very solid".
Makumbe said he believed those wanting to participate were looking at possible regional gains for the party or, in some cases, personal gains.
He said for instance, candidates from the Matabeleland provinces in western Zimbabwe wanted to prevent Zanu-PF from gaining a foothold in their area through the senate.
He said: "The people who are saying, 'Let's participate' are thinking regionally or personally.
"Those against participation are thinking in terms of the national interest."
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