Zanu-PF bags Mwenezi East seat
Zanu (PF) supporters (File pic)

Zanu (PF) supporters (File pic)

Herald Reporters—
Zanu-PF has retained the Mwenezi East parliamentary seat after its candidate Cde Joshua Moyo was nominated unopposed at the Nomination Court sitting at the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Candidates in Marondera East and Mbire will have to contest in by-elections on September 19 after contenders from other political parties successfully filed their papers at the nomination courts at Marondera Magistrates’ Court and Bindura Magistrates’ Court, respectively.

Just like in the June 1o by-elections, MDC-T did not field candidates in the forthcoming by-elections.

The three seats fell vacant after Messrs Kudakwashe Bhasikiti (Mwenezi East), Ray Kaukonde (Marondera Central) and David Butau (Mbire) were expelled from Parliament after Zanu-PF wrote to the Speaker disowning them.

The trio was first expelled from Zanu-PF for working with a cabal led by expelled former Vice President Joice Mujuru which was angling to remove President Mugabe unconstitutionally.

In Marondera Central, Zanu-PF provincial secretary for Administration for Mashonaland East Cde Lawrence Lavious Katsiru will contest against Ms Wadzanayi Mabika (National Constitutional Assembly), Mr Solomon Makaza (Transform Zimbabwe) and Mr Kingdom Nyika (Freedom Front).

In Mbire, Zanu-PF candidate Cde Douglas Karoro will contest against Mr Kudzanai Gondo (Transform Zimbabwe) and Mr Njabulo Sibanda (National Constitutional Assembly).

For Mwenezi East, Masvingo provincial elections officer Mr Zex Zirabada Pudurai said Cde Moyo was the only candidate who had filed his papers from the time the nomination court opened at 10am up to its closure at 4pm.

“Joshua Moyo of Zanu-PF has been duly elected legislator for Mwenezi East parliamentary seat with effect from 19 September this year which had been proclaimed as the date for the by-election,’’ he said.

Cde Moyo said his victory was for the people of Mwenezi East who had been betrayed by Mr Bhasikiti.

“The biggest winners are the people of Mwenezi East and I am very happy that Zanu-PF has managed to easily retain this seat without even going for an electoral contest,’’ he said.

“My main task is to unite the people of Mwenezi East who were plunged into confusion by what Mr Bhasikiti was doing by being at loggerheads with the national leadership of our party.”

In Marondera Central, provincial elections officer Mr Collins Munetsi closed nomination at 4pm before announcing that the four candidates had been duly nominated.

Some losing Zanu-PF candidates in last week’s primary elections attended the sitting of the nomination court as a sign of solidarity.

Cde Katsiru said they were going to work as a team to retain the constituency.

“We are going to defend the revolution,” he said. “We have set up a formidable force comprising my colleagues who were with me the during primary elections.”

NCA national spokesperson Mr Maddock Chivasa expressed confidence of victory in the by-election.

Announcing the successful candidates for Mbire, provincial elections officer for Mashonaland Central Ms Thenjiwe Mnkandla said those intenting to verify papers of those successful could so today at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission offices in Bindura.

Cde Karoro said he was confident of victory given the popularity of the ruling party in Mbire.

“I have no doubt that Zanu-PF will win,” he said. “The people in Mbire are behind the ruling party because of its track record of being pro-poor.”

Transform Zimbabwe candidate Mr Gondo said his party would win the by-elections despite its poor showing in recent by-elections.

Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central chairperson Cde Dickson Mafa said the party had mobilised its supporters and was confident of a resounding victory in Mbire.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey