President sets Gokwe-Kabuyuni by-election date President Mnangagwa

Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
President Mnangagwa has fixed Saturday 27 August 2022 as the date on which Gokwe-Kabuyuni by-election will be held to fill in the vacancy created by the death of Cde Leornard Chikomba.

In a Statutory Instrument of an Extraordinary Government Gazette published last Friday, President Mnangagwa set 22 July as the date on which the Nomination Court will sit at Gweru magistrate court to receive nominations of candidates for election for the constituency.

Cde Chikomba, who was also a Zanu PF Central Committee member, was declared a provincial liberation hero given his immense contribution during and after the liberation struggle.

Popularly known as “Bhudhi”, Cde Chikomba died in a car accident in May this year 20km away from his home along the Gokwe-Chitekete highway when he was coming from a Zanu PF Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Gweru.

In his announcement, President Mnangagwa said his decision came after he had been officially notified of the existence of the vacancy in the constituency by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda in terms of the Electoral Act.

“Now, therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President as afore said, I do, by this my proclamation— (a). order a new election for the constituency of Gokwe-Kabuyuni; and (b). fix Friday the 22nd day of July, 2022, and the Magistrates’ Court, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Street, Gweru, as the date on which and the place at which a nomination court shall sit in terms of section 46 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], to receive nominations of candidates for election for the constituency of Gokwe-Kabuyuni; and (c) fix Saturday the 27th day of August, 2022, as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 46(17(c ) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13],” reads the notice.

During the liberation struggle, as an employee of a bus company, Cde Chikomba was instrumental in the smuggling of arms of war and equipment in support of freedom fighters.

He is credited for harbouring and providing clothing and food to freedom fighters during the liberation struggle.

After independence, Cde Chikomba, who was a bus driver, worked hard to become an established businessman who had vast business interests around the Chitekete business centre before becoming a legislator in 2005.

He had business interest in farming, transport, food industry among others.

Gokwe Kabuyuni has traditionally been held by Zanu PF and the ruling party is expected to retain the seat.

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