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The Douglas Mwonzora led Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has pulled out from the by-election race scheduled for December 9, 2023.
The by elections come after self-imposed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu recalled 14 of the main opposition’s legislators on the 4th of October, alleging that they had ceased to be members of the party.
The former legislators appealed against the recalls at the High Court but lost the case.
In a statement, the MDC said it will not waste energy in participating in an already flawed election, adding it is currently engaging the judicial system to ensure that the electoral system meets “democratic standards”.
“After extensive consultations with our party members, stakeholders, and considering the broader context of our nation’s electoral landscape, we have made the difficult decision not to participate in the upcoming by-elections.
“We have carefully assessed the current electoral conditions, and regrettably we find that these conditions have not improved since the August 2023 plebiscite. We had previously stated that the August election was marred by what we believe to be the biggest electoral fraud in the history of our great nation. Unfortunately the issues that plagued that election remain unaddressed, and the electoral landscape remains fraught with challenges.
“We believe that true democracy is merely about the act of voting but also about the fairness, transparency and integrity of the electoral process. The persistent lack of electoral reforms and the absence of the necessary safeguards to ensure the integrity of our electoral system trouble us deeply.
“Therefore, instead of participating in these by-elections, we have chosen to channel our energy and resources towards the pursuit of justice and electoral reform. We are currently pursuing the delimitation court case and will actively advocate for comprehensive electoral reforms that address the issues that have plagued our electoral system,” reads the statement.
The boycott isn’t the first by the former main opposition as its leader Douglas Mwonzora pulled out from the Presidential race during the August general elections, citing irregularities within the electoral processes.