Harare (New Ziana) -The Citizens’ Coalition for Change said on Wednesday it will be filing nomination papers for candidates in all the constituencies in the country to contest in the harmonised elections scheduled for August 23 this year.
Party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said this after filing her nomination papers at the Harare magistrates court on Wednesday.
She said party deputy president Tendai Biti, who lost in the candidate selection process for Harare East, was was an important member who would be accommodated elsewhere.
There had been speculation that Biti would file nomination papers as an independent candidate following reports that he had fallen out with party leader Nelson Chamisa who reportedly viewed him as a threat to his position.
Mahere referred to a statement by Chamisa that there were many other important areas in government and elsewhere where those that fell by the wayside during the selection process would be deployed.
Meanwhile Mahere criticized the nomination fees saying they too exorbitant and were designed to prevent people from participating in the elections.
The government pegged nomination fees at US$20 000 for President, US$1 000 for the House Assembly $1000, party lists for National Assembly, Senate, women and youth quotas US$200 while local authority seats do not attract a fee.
Many commentators however welcomed the fees, saying they had shut out opportunists who wanted to belittle the electoral process in the country.
Turning to the controversial CCC candidate selection process which almost tore the party apart, Mahere said it had instead ushered in a new crop of young and vibrant representatives.
“The nomination has ushered in a citizens campaign aimed at gaining Chamisa upwards of 4 million votes,” she said.
New Ziana
