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Mr Moyo told Chronicle that reports that the province rejected his candidature were unfounded as he was the legal Member of Parliament for Makokoba.

Mr Moyo, who is also the Minister of State Enterprises and Parastatals, said he was sworn in as MP for the constituency when the party’s deputy president, Ms Thokozani Khupe was elevated to Deputy Prime Minister in 2009.

He confirmed that the party’s national council had resolved that male candidates were not going to contest in parliamentary constituencies reserved for women, but insisted that Makokoba constituency does not belong to DPM Khupe.

“It is true that the national council made a decision that where there is a woman, no man can challenge. It is only women who can run for the seats. In Bulawayo, only two constituencies have female MPs. These are Bulawayo Central, where there is Dorcas Sibanda and Bulawayo East where there is Thabitha Khumalo,” said Mr Moyo.

“In 2009, when the inclusive Government was formed, Vice President Joice Mujuru and DPM Khupe became MPs by virtue of their positions. Zanu-PF and MDC were required to appoint MPs to replace the two and I was sworn in to represent Makokoba after being appointed by the party in February 2009. Therefore, legally I am MP for Makokoba and there is no contradiction,” said Mr Moyo.

He said reports that he was rejected by the people of Makokoba were fabricated by his opponents who were not aware that he was accepted by the people in the constituency and his application was filed by the party’s district in Makokoba.

“For me issues of representing people are determined by the people. My application was filed by Makokoba district and I have not seen the rejection that people are talking about. Like all other MPs I will go for confirmation. If I am not confirmed I will go for the primary elections and I will accept the verdict,” said Mr Moyo.

“I am not the kind of a person who will force myself into power. If the people want to be represented by me I will be available but if they want somebody else I will accept the outcome and accept whoever wins.”

On Sunday, MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said the party’s national council had barred male officials from contesting in parliamentary constituencies that had been reserved for women.

He said the decision was part of the party’s drive to achieve 50-50 gender representation and the men who had eyed those seats would be automatically dropped from the race.

Mr Moyo has been in a tussle to control the province with Mzilikazi Senator Mr Matson Hlalo.

More than 1 200 candidates submitted their names for consideration to represent the MDC-T party in the forthcoming elections and 200 prospective candidates were disqualified.

Sources in the party said Ms Khupe abandoned her constituency and moved to Nkayi North constituency, but received stiff resistance from party officials in the area.

Last week, MDC-T indicated that Ms Khupe would no longer contest in the elections but would benefit from the 60 seats reserved for women in the national assembly.