Figure 2 MDC- T Leader Nelson Chamisa addressing a rally in Maboleni, Lower Gweru, Midlands Province 4.3.3. The team based in Manicaland engaged one of the candidates Mr. T. Magura for Mutasa Central who had come with a letter of appeal as he was disgruntled with the way that the consensus process had been conducted on Monday 14 May 2018 in his district. He alleged that he was forced to step down and allow the sitting Member of Parliament to run as the Party had been using his resources. He had been invited to a meeting to discuss the consensus but it turned out to be a campaign which the other aspiring candidate had come prepared for. 4.4. Participation of women and youth 4.4.1. In Mashonaland Central, it was reported that the MDC-T had reserved some constituencies for its alliance members, women and the youth. This is in compliance with Article 7 (a) of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which stipulates that State Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right to be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies. The Constitution, in section 80 (1), further stipulates that every woman has the right to equal opportunities with men in political activities. Regarding the youth, it is acknowledged that efforts were undertaken to ensure compliance with section 67 (3) (b) of the Constitution which provides that everyone above the age of eighteen has the right to stand for election for public office, and, if elected to hold such office. One of the major concerns raised in Chipinge was inconsistencies in the implementation of the Party quota system leading to the need to hold primary elections unlike in other Constituencies. 4.4.2. The ZHRC briefly met with the MDC-T Secretary for Women’s League for Masvingo Urban. She advised that the party had reached a consensus for Wards 1 and 9 (both of whom are female candidates). Ward 10 was uncontested and the candidate is female. Ward 2, 3 & 4 had 3 females and 6 males each contesting respectively. This is in compliance with the right of women to the right to be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies as enshrined in Article 7 (a) of the CEDAW as well as section 67 (3) (b) of the Constitution which stipulates that everyone above the age of eighteen has the right to stand for election for public office, and, if elected to Page 8 of 16