MDC spokesperson, Jacob Mafume confirmed Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube were free to contest positions of their choice as the five years criteria does not affect members who came from other formations, who agreed to re-join the main opposition party.
MDC Congress guidelines released on Thursday state that members interested in contesting a provincial and national position should have served the party or their previous party for a minimum of five years. Mafume said the rules will be applied with variance. Said Mafume:
We are one party, we are looking at your history in the other party because it will have to be considered as well. This is to avoid a situation where somebody joins the party today and say I am eligible. If you were in any other formation we look at your history there and check if you were in any leadership position in that formation. These rules will be applied with the sensitivity that every rule is applied with. There are exceptions and variations for good reason.
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