TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has confirmed the candidates for the upcoming by-elections on 27 April at Harare Magistrates Court.
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| File Photo/ZimSphere |
The candidates for Harare East are independent Ropafadzo Cynthia Cheza and Kiven Mutimbanyoka for ZANU PF. For Mt Pleasant, the candidates are independent Nason Mamuse, George Mashavave for ZANU PF, and another independent, Brian Ticky.
"A poll shall take place on Saturday the 27th of April, 2024, since more than one candidate has been nominated in the Harare East and Mt Pleasant National Assembly constituencies," announced ZEC presiding officer Austin Ndlovu.
However, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) failed to nominate a single candidate for the by-elections.
The nomination process was marred by delays, with the court having to guide candidates and rectify their errors. This was in stark contrast to ZANU PF candidates who completed their nomination in the morning.
The court sat until around 8pm to give prospective independent David Chitimbe time to pay nomination fees, but he failed to do so and was dropped out of the race.
Chitimbe intended to represent Harare East but failed to successfully file his papers due to disorganization and payment delays.
Speaking to reporters outside court, independent candidate Ropafadzo Cheza pledged to work on improving the lamentable situation of drug abuse among the country's youth and the dismal state of the country's roads, should she be elected.
She expressed comfort in running as an independent candidate rather than under a political party.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF candidate for Mt Pleasant, George Mashavave, expressed joy after successfully filing his papers, telling reporters that "victory was certain".
He also expressed his intention to modernize outdated bylaws if voted into office.
The by-elections were triggered by the resignation of Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Markham in solidarity with Nelson Chamisa, who stepped down as CCC leader due to internal strife within the party.
Chamisa's frustration was orchestrated by Sengezo Tshabangu, who claimed to be the party’s interim secretary general before instigating a massive wave of recalls of lawmakers, stating that they were no longer CCC members.
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