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Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi—
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has called for a by-election in Chiredzi’s Ward 5 to replace MDC-T councillor, Munyaradzi Hatinahama, who was last year jailed 18 months for theft of trust property. Hatinahama, who was elected councillor in the 2013 harmonised elections, was jailed after the High Court upheld both his conviction and sentence for theft of trust property committed in 2012.

He embezzled over $2 000 from subscriptions paid by home-seekers in the town. Speaking at the Zanu-PF Chiredzi Inter-District meeting at Chitsanga Hall last week, Masvingo provincial political commissar Cde Jappy Jaboon urged aspiring party candidates to submit their curriculum vitae by tomorrow.

“We are ready to reclaim Chiredzi Ward 5 as the revolutionary party,” he said. “It was by mistake that the MDC-T thieves scooped our ward during the 2013 harmonised elections. “It is time we correct that mistake since justice has separated good people and the thief from MDC-T who is now serving his prison term.”

Cde Jaboon said the party was expecting to receive all CVs from aspiring candidates in time for primary elections on Saturday. “All candidates within Zanu-PF who would like to take part in this election must submit their CVs by Wednesday (tomorrow) to the province,” he said. “The province would then announce qualifying candidates who would take part during the primary elections set for Saturday.”

A significant number of Zanu-PF candidates have already declared interest in taking part in the by election. Among them is the 2013 losing Zanu-PF candidate and chairman of Exodus Housing Cooperative, Cde Leonard Ngwenya, Ward 5 Zanu-PF youth chairman Blessings Mazinyani and Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association organising secretary Cde Jonathan Muusha.

Zanu-PF holds six wards in Chiredzi urban, while MDC-T has two. The Nomination Court will seat on February 1, while by-election will take place on April 2.