5 candidates to contest presidential election in Zimbabwe

By Staff Reporter

HARARE – Five candidates on Friday successfully lodged their papers with the nomination court to contest in the presidential election in Zimbabwe this year. Initially 10 had filed their papers but we understand half of them were disqualified for one reason or another.

Nehanda Radio understands Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Robert Mugabe (Zanu PF), Dumiso Dabengwa (ZAPU), Welshman Ncube (MDC) and Kisinoti Mukwazhe from the Zimbabwe Development Party are the official candidates.

Its not yet clear whether those disqualified from filing their papers can appeal.

Meanwhile Tsvangirai received a boost after the third most popular presidential candidate in the 2008 election Dr Simba Makoni stepped aside and put his backing behind the former trade union leader.

Makoni a former Zanu PF politburo member and Former Finance Minister said he was prepared to work in a future government with Tsvangirai.

“I am happy to advise the nation that the National Management Committee (NMC) of MKD resolved on Tuesday June 25, 2013 not to field a presidential candidate, in the forthcoming elections,” he said adding “we took this decision in order to pave the way for agreement on a single presidential candidate for all those yearning for change in national leadership at the highest level.”

“I am fully-committed to back the one candidate who is chosen by the grand coalition. If I was not prepared to back that person, I wouldn’t have made this statement,” Makoni told reporters.

There was an expectation that Welshman Ncube would also partner Tsvangirai in a proposed grand coalition but party Secretary General Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga who filed Ncube’s papers told journalists:

‘Let me make it clear that we have never been approached to discuss this grand coalition. We only read about it in the newspapers. We’ve made it known that whoever wants to sit down and talk about it we are open to it and they know where to find us,’ she said.