Tafadzwa Ndlovu Herald Correspondent
MINISTER of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Martin Dinha says ongoing legal issues are not a hindrance to his aspirations to become Zanu-PF legislator for Mazowe North in the July 23 by-elections, as there were no reservations raised by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission when his name was submitted at the nomination court.

Minister Dinha had his extortion trial suspended in November last year after the High Court referred the matter to the Constitutional Court to determine constitutional issues he raised in his defence.

In an interview, Minister Dinha said Zanu-PF and the electorate were aware of the trumped up charges.

“I have no issues at all that can make anyone challenge my election or nomination,” he said.

“The case against me is dead and buried and I have a clean criminal record, no previous convictions and none to come or achievable. So, there is no basis for any legal issues to be raised against me.”

He added: “In fact if there were any legal issues in particular a conviction or any legal impediment, ZEC would have rejected my nomination when the nomination court sat on the 27th of May.”

Minister Dinha and Renewal Democrats for Zimbabwe’s Elias Malukula are the only candidates contesting the by-election to fill the vacancy created by the death of Zanu-PF legislator Cde Edgar Chidavaenzi in March this year.

Minister Dinha said he was already on the ground where they are holding rallies and meeting the people in Mazowe North.

He also said Zanu-PF is posed to reclaim the parliamentary seat owing to the overwhelming support and the unity in the party.

“Zanu-PF will win resoundingly. All we need to do is to muster the majority. What I am concerned about is the numbers, the last vote was of about 13 000 people, but we want to surpass that and win with at least 20 000 people,” said Minister Dinha

Minister Dinha said he would improve the socio-economic conditions of the people in his area.

“The rural people need development and we will create employment for them through the implementation of Zim-Asset. In some areas we need to come up with programmes for marketing of produce since most of the people in those areas are into tobacco farming, horticulture and animal husbandry,” he said.

“We need to promote the farmer and improve irrigation infrastructure. There are dams around the constituency, but they need to start benefiting the people given the drought situation in the country,” he said.

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