Thread by @OpenParlyZw

#Twimboz this is a recap of NCA leader @ProfMadhuku's press briefing on @ZECzim’s recently gazetted hefty presidential and parliamentary fees

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@ProfMadhuku: "I want to welcome you all from the media, and thank you go attending our press briefing."

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@ProfMadhuku: "This press briefing is on the recent gazetted @ZECzim’s nomination fees."

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@ProfMadhuku: "As you are aware the current position that prevailed in 2018 general election, which was the position up to last Friday last week is that they would be some nomination fees."

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@ProfMadhuku: "For a presidential candidate it was US$ 1 000 for a member of parliament or senator it was US $ 50. And then for a councillor there was no fee that was prescribed."

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@ProfMadhuku: "What @ZECzim has done out of the blue is simply announce that they would require US$ 20 000 for anyone who wants to be a presidential candidate..."

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@ProfMadhuku: "...And US$ 1000 for any person who wants to be a member of parliament and then US$ 100 for anybody who wants to be a senator."

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@ProfMadhuku: "You know that there are 1850 councillors and a third of that about 600 councillors who will be added a result of proportional representation with amendment number 2."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Then you have members of parliament that are will be up to 270 and 60 senators, because they are 80 the other 20 are not elected."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Now out of that a presidential party that wants to fill a presidential candidate and all members of parliament, all senators and councillors will require something close to half a million United States dollars."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Our position as NCA that the position by @ZECzim is, one it is ridiculous."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Secondly it is totally unacceptable, thirdly it unconstitutional, Fourthly it is undemocratic."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Fifthly ZEC has no powers to be involved in making such a fundamental decision in who stands and doesn't stand as a candidate in an election, this is the position of the NCA."

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@ProfMadhuku: "I want to give detailed reasons publicly why we believe all those positions are valid."

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@ProfMadhuku: "I will start with the ridiculous position, now it is completely inconceivable that when the Constitution says every Zimbabwean is entitled to vote...or hold public office if they are elected..."

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@ProfMadhuku: "...That in itself is a constitutional right that would be exercisable by any Zimbabwean who wishes to be doing so."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Now to imagine that you have to put a monetary requirement means that there is a misunderstanding of what these nomination processes."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Imagine someone waking up and says well we are going to ask to pay so much United States dollars, how many women and marginalized people are going to raise those dollars."

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@ProfMadhuku: "They will have to fund some funder for them to stand as candidates."

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@ProfMadhuku: "How many people can afford those fees when we encourage people to stand for office."

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@ProfMadhuku: "So it means the democratic space are going to be restricted to those that have the resources."

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@ProfMadhuku: "And I've read some journalist in today's @HeraldZimbabwe saying you cannot have democracy without money..."

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@ProfMadhuku: "...That you cannot be a politician without money, I think we used to hear those views in the American political discourse."

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@ProfMadhuku: "We know if you want to expand democratic space allow everyone coming from the lowest levels of our structures in society to the highest levels to be able to participate in electoral processes..."

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@ProfMadhuku: "For us in the NCA our money was paid through the blood that shed through the liberation struggle."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Our colleagues at @ZECzim don't understand want the liberation struggle was all about. It was to pay for some of these rights that we now enjoy."

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@ProfMadhuku: "More fundamentally we believe it will restrict democratic space to the two dominant political parties."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Our agenda in the NCA is to expand democracy by ensuring we have mutli-party system."

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@ProfMadhuku: "I think the ruling party @ZANU_Official would easily get that money, they have the resources to do that. They are funded by many corrupt people in this country."

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@ProfMadhuku: "Just two corrupt business people will be able to fund all @ZANU_Official expenses, then our other dominant colleagues have so many friends around the world."

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@ProfMadhuku: "We do not agree with the perception that for us to enjoy our rights as citizens we have to get the approval of other citizens."

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@ProfMadhuku: "I have right to stand as a presidential candidate and do not want to negotiate that right, no one is supposed to approve my standing I mean it either you vote for me or you do not vote for me."

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