"Almost 100% Votes May Not Get You Power" - Mudzuri

Senior MDC-T official, Elias Mudzuri has said it is a mammoth task to dislodge ZANU PF from power even after winning the election.

The former energy minister made the remarks on Friday at the launch of his MDC-T presidential campaign at his residence in Harare’s Milton Park suburb ahead of the court-sanctioned extraordinary congress slated for December this year. He said:

Once we engage and talk, and there is trust between the military and the political groupings, it is easier to take power.

As you know, you cannot take power without the consent of the military, and right now we have a military government whether you like it or not. We have to negotiate power with the powers that be. Even if you have almost 100 percent votes, you may not get power.

Mudzuri speaks when there is a stand-off between opposition MDC Alliance and the ruling ZANU PF over the 2018 presidential elections which the former says was stolen.

Since its formation, MDC has often claimed that the ruling party was conniving with the election management body, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to manipulate election results in favour of ZANU PF candidates.

In 2008, the late former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai who was the presidential candidate of the MDC won the election but ZEC said he had failed to acquire the required 50 plus one percent of votes required for him to ascend to power.

ZEC ordered a run-off election that was preceded by bloodshed as the ruling party reportedly unleashed soldiers and war veterans to intimidate the electorate.

ZANU PF’s candidate, the late former president Robert Mugabe eventually won as Tsvangirai pulled out from the race at the last hour saying his supporters were being brutalised.

Some political analysts say elections in Zimbabwe and indeed Africa at large are not a true reflection of the electorate’s will.

More: NewZimbabwe