NO Presidential candidate for ZAPU
Opposition Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) will not be fielding a presidential candidate due to the exorbitant presidential nomination fee.
“We will not, however deploy a presidential candidate this year owing to the participation fees charged by ZEC. While our members insisted that we deploy our president, the leadership collective felt that it was unwise to spend little resources from our members’ contributions on nomination fees for one candidate when the money could be spread between 20 candidates,” said the party in a statement released by Spokesperson Mso Ndlovu.
In the absence of own presidential candidate, ZAPU implored its members, supporters and all registered voters to “use their conscience to choose from available candidates, a president who has no history of mass murders, corruption and failed promises, to lead our beloved nation for the next five years.”
The party also called upon its members in constituencies where it will not be fielding candidates to vote for “like-minded” progressives pursuing reform and change.
Then led by Dumiso Dabengwa, a decorated liberation war hero, ZAPU threw its weight behind Nelson Chamisa who was MDC Alliance president in the 2018 election.
The party revealed that subject to nomination court processes, it will be deploying 29 member of the National Assembly candidates throughout the country with the highest number coming from Matabeleland South.
“We are further deploying 178 councillors with a representation of nine out of ten provinces in the country.”
According to Statutory Instrument 144 of 2022 gazetted by ZEC, those vying for the presidency must fork out US$20 000 while parliamentary hopefuls are required to pay US$1 000. Last week the Zanu PF-dominated parliament upheld the fees.
The two main players in the upcoming elections, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling party and Nelson Chamisa of CCC have reportedly filed their nomination on the eve of today’s sitting of the nomination court after paying the fees.
An urgent High Court application by Egypt Dzinemunhenzva, Harare North MP Allan Markham, Tapiwanashe Chiriga and Vongai Zimudzi challenging the steep candidate nomination fees was dismissed on the eve of the of the nomination court. The High Court ruled that the application was not urgent.
