MDC-T Preparing for 2018 Polls, Sets Strict Conditions for Oppotision CoalitionThe Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai says the party has taken a decision to prioritize election preparedness in the year 2017. In a statement, Tsvangirai said, “All our structures across the country, across villages and towns will collapse into a grand election machinery. Related to poising the party for elections, the MDC will up its push for electoral conditions as a precondition to ensure that the next elections are free, fair and credible.” He said the party is ready to work with like-minded opposition parties in an attempt to dislodge Zanu PF from power in the 2018 general elections. An opposition coalition, according to the MDC-T national executive and national council, should be based on internationally accepted and tested principles. These include a condition that the coalition partners will field one presidential candidate and one parliamentary and one local government candidate per contested seat. “The presidential candidate must be selected on the basis of the best individual who can win an election for the coalition against the incumbent; the party, which based on past performance and/or other factors, is the strongest electorally in a given constituency must field the candidate for the coalition; parties will agree on the institutional framework (structure) for the management of the coalition and must have common ground and agree on key policy issues before the election. “After successfully winning the election, the coalition president shall, in terms of the Constitution of the Republic, appoint a National State Executive of Vice Presidents, Ministers and Deputy Ministers guided by the following five principles and considerations.”