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Felex Share Senior Reporter
President Mugabe has proclaimed July 24 as the date for the by-election in Mudzi West parliamentary constituency that fell vacant following the death of Cde Acquillina Katsande in March.

This comes as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission yesterday gazetted the names of candidates of those to contest in nine of the 14 by-elections set for June 10.

The 14 parliamentary seats fell vacant after MDC-T recalled 21 legislators who joined the newly-formed United Movement for Democratic Change (UMDC).

Seven seats are reserved for the MDC-T and will not be contested as they were won through the proportional representation system.

In a Government Gazette published yesterday, President Mugabe said the Nomination Court would sit on May 21 at the Magistrates Court in Marondera to receive nomination papers of interested candidates for Mudzi West. The President acted, as empowered by the law, after the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda wrote to him advising that the Mudzi West seat had become vacant due to the death of Cde Katsande.

Section 39 (2) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) says that after the President has been notified of vacancies in the membership of Parliament, he shall issue a proclamation ordering a new election to fill the vacancies.

In the same Government Gazette, zec acting chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana, announced the names of candidates in nine constituencies in Harare and Bulawayo who qualified at the close of sitting of the Nomination Court on April 16.

In Harare East, the contest will be between Cde Mavis Gumbo (Zanu-PF), Dale Dore (Transform Zimbabwe), Marvelous Kuveya and Misheck Mushawatu (Independent) while in Kambuzuma Cde Tinashe Maduza (Zanu-PF), Obey Chiwara (Mavambo Kusile Dawn), John Muzhazhe (Transform Zimbabwe), Nyasha Makwati (Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe) and three independent candidates Tapera Mabuwa, Taungana Madhina and Tendai Makoni will battle it out.

In Glen View South, the race will be between Cde Pius Madzinga (Zanu-PF), Steven Sibanda (MKD), Moses Nkomo (TZ), Edwin Sithole (National Constitutional Assembly), Reginald Musika (DARE), Judith Mpambgwa (Freedom Front Party), Donald Chimatira, Tafirenyika Chipato, Donald Chirungu, Chivandire Michael (all independent).

Candidates for Dzivarasekwa are Cde Omega Hungwe (Zanu-PF), Cosmas Benjamin (PDZ), Ngonidzashe Chandiwana (TZ), Happison Chikova (African Democratic Party), Washington Madure (DARE), Peter Mukuchamano (NCA), Enock Mafigu (MKD), Saul Tore and Tonderai Karimakwenda (independent).

Five candidates namely Cde Maideyi Mpala (Zanu-PF ), Jane Mbewe (FFP), Tawanda Mhike (TZ), Casper Sibanda (ZAPU) and Njabuliso Mguni (independent) will outdo each other for the Lobengula parliamentary seat.

In Luveve, the contest is between Cde Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo (Zanu-PF), Amon Nyamambi Dube (ZAPU), Morgan Ntuli (NCA), Fanuel Tshuma (TZ) and three independent candidates namely Willias Dube, Mkululi Nyathi and Thembelihle Sibanda.

Battling it out for the Makokoba seat are Cde Tshinga Dube (Zanu-PF), Jonathan Ndlovu (ZAPU), Mable Ngwenya (NCA), Sehlelo Nkomo (TZ), Peter Wilson (MKD), Joan Dlodhlo and Sibangilizwe Msipa (independent).

In Pumula, the contest will be between Jackson Lunga (NCA), Michael Mpofu (ZAPU), Godfrey Ncube (Zanu-PF), Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu (TZ) and four independent candidates namely Morrison Maluso, Albert Mhlanga, Zakhele Pofu and Misheck Ncube while the contestants for Pelandaba-Mpopoma seat are Joseph Tshuma (Zanu-PF), Strike Mkandla (ZAPU), Sokhaya Mabena (NCA), Andrea Banda (TZ), Joseph Mabhikwa, George Mkena and Vincent Mlambo (independent).

The remaining five by-elections whose candidates are still to be gazetted will be held in Highfield West and Kuwadzana in Harare, Tsholotsho North in Matabeleland North, Mbizo in the Midlands and Chikanga-Dangamvura in Manicaland.

The 14 by-elections will be held on the same day as those of Headlands and Hurungwe West where Messrs Didymus Mutasa and his nephew, Temba Mliswa, were kicked out by Zanu-PF over an array of nefarious allegations.

The MDC factions are boycotting the elections claiming that they want electoral reforms.