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Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has confirmed Zanu-PF nominee Cde Tabeth Murwira to replace Dr Olivia Muchena as Mashonaland East Senator, while Mr Victor Mapungwana of MDC-T will replace Mr Matson Hlalo as Bulawayo Senator. This followed the decision by both political parties to recall Dr Muchena and Mr Hlalo after they were expelled from Zanu-PF and MDC-T respectively.

Dr Muchena was recalled from Parliament for her links with deposed Zimbabwe People First leader Dr Joice Mujuru, while Mr Hlalo was recalled for dragging the opposition to court. The announcement was made by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau in a Government Gazette published yesterday. Mr Hlalo was expelled from MDC-T after he dragged the opposition party to court challenging the opposition party’s decision to recognise Mr Gift Banda as the Bulawayo provincial chairperson ahead of him.

“It is hereby notified, in terms of Section 39(7)(a) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), that the persons in the Schedule, have been nominated by the Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) party and the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party, respectively, to fill vacancies in the Senate that occurred following the recall of the incumbent members by both respective parties on the grounds that the incumbent members had ceased to be members of the respective parties and have been therefore been appointed Senators with effect from the date of publication of this notice,” read the notice in a Government Gazette published yesterday.

The publication of the Government Gazette means that the Cde Murwira and Mr Mapungwana were due to be sworn in next week when Parliament resume sitting. Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda is expected to administer oath in terms of the Constitution.