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Bulawayo Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said preparations for the Lupane East constituency by-election are at an advanced stage after nine candidates successfully filed their papers at the Nomination Court last Friday.

The Lupane East by-election will be held on August 3 after the seat fell vacant following the death of Zanu-PF parliamentarian Cde Sithembile Gumbo in April due to injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.

Nine candidates successfully submitted their papers while Mr Thomas Sibanda of the United African National Council (UANC) dropped from the race after failing to pay nomination fees pegged at $302.

ZEC Matabeleland North provincial manager Mr Mark Ndlovu said the nine who will contest in the election are Cde Mbongeni Dube (Zanu-PF), Morgen Ndlovu (Labour Economists and African Democrats Party), Given Ncube (MDC-T), Dalumuzi Khumalo (MDC-Alliance), Nelson Mkandla (National Action Party), Andrew Tshaba (Mthwakazi Republic Party), Njabulo Sibanda (National Patriotic Front), Gezekile Mkhwebu (Zapu) and Alice Sibanda (National Constitutional Assembly).

President Mnangagwa proclaimed August 3 as the date for the by-election as well as council polls for Nkayi Rural District Council Ward 23 and Bubi RDC Ward 22.

The two council seats fell vacant following the death of incumbent councillors.

The Nkayi Ward 23 Nomination Court sat at Western Commonage Courts last Friday, while the Bubi Ward 22 Nomination Court sat yesterday at Bubi RDC offices.

ZEC said it will provide details on the council elections candidates today.

Zanu-PF Lupane East parliamentary candidate Cde Dube said he was ready for the election.

The 31-year-old Cde Dube is the national deputy secretary for education in the Youth League and Zanu-PF Matabeleland North Province unanimously endorsed his candidature.

Cde Dube, who lost the party’s primaries to Cde Gumbo last year, said he appreciated the gesture by the province to promote youth representation.