All set for August 23 poll Zanu PF bags over 20 Midlands wards uncontested

GWERU – – Zanu PF in the Midlands has bagged 20 local governments seats as its candidates were
unopposed after the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party failed to field
candidates in the wards in province.
The polls, to be held on August 23, will choose new presidential, parliamentary and local
government representatives for the next five years. Nomination courts sat countrywide last
Wednesday to register candidates contesting in the elections for various political parties.
In the Midlands province, the nomination court process went well as scheduled with the ruling party
fielding candidates in all seats up for grabs. In Midlands, Zanu PF has already won at least 20 out of
the 53 uncontested wards.
In Kwekwe, a total of 48 candidates successfully submitted their nomination papers for the local
government election, with three independent candidates being rejected as they had insufficient
nominators.
Former Health Minister Dr. Henry Madzorera will contest against Zanu PF candidate and prominent
businessman Dr. Solomon Matsa in Kwekwe’s Ward 10. Other candidates vying for the same seat are
Aaron Ozman of UZA and Ruvimbo Tafara (Independent).
Ward 11 has two candidates, namely Wilfred Mazikana of Zanu PF and Panyika Panyika of CCC.
In the House of Assembly election, Zanu PF and CCC managed to field candidates in all the 28
constituencies. MDC-T has five candidates in Kwekwe Central, Mbizo, Gweru Urban, Zvishavane-
Ngezi, Mkoba North and South.
There are six independent candidates under former Zanu PF Political Commissar Saviour
Kasukuwere. They will be contesting in Redcliff, Silobela, Gokwe-Nembudziya, Gokwe Mafungautsi,
Gokwe Central and Zvishavane-Ngezi.
In Kwekwe Central, youthful Zanu PF candidate Energy “Dhala” Ncube will battle it out with the
incumbent Judith Tobaiwa of CCC. Settlement Chikwinya of CCC is out of contention after he was
ousted by Corban Madzivanyika in the party’s selection process. Madzivanyika is contesting against
former Mbizo legislator Vongaiishe Mupereri of Zanu PF.
In Gweru, five political parties will contest in 18 wards. These are Zanu PF, CCC, UDA, MDC-T, and
DAUZ. While six candidates will contest in Ward 14.
Gweru Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi of MDC-T will battle it out against Anashe Maclean of Zanu PF
and Mercy Magwanya of CCC.

Meanwhile, Judah Mike, an official of the CCC party in the Midlands province, told journalists that
the opposition group had failed to register candidates in 50 wards countrywide.
He said this during a press club discussion pitting the ruling Zanu PF and CCC, which was organised
by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists on Thursday.
In the Midlands province alone, Zanu PF has more than 20 uncontested local government seats in
Gokwe South, Vungu and Zibagwe constituencies.
Some of the ward seats secured are those that the CCC could not field candidates.
"Out of the 1 970 wards nationwide, we could not field in some wards. This is the information I was
given but was not told as to the reasons why the candidates failed to file nomination papers," Mike
said.
He dismissed assertions that the citizens consensus candidates selection process had been full of
favouritism.
“We came out with candidates that were chosen by citizens and those filed papers were the
favourites.
“There could be people who are disgruntled but in each and every process there is disgruntlement
but what is important is to find each other,” he said.
Mike said the public was exaggerating the number of double and triple candidates within his party.
“The other party is called Citizens Convergence for Change, which is different from Citizens Coalition
for Change.”
The country held 2023 general elections nomination courts this week, where candidates filed
nomination papers.
Mike, together with Zanu PF youth secretary for business development Tafadzwa Guveya pledged to
shun violence as well as protect journalists.
“We are committed to peace as the ruling party and we are pushing for a peaceful poll. This is a year
for peace and we will not fight back if we are provoked,” Guveya said.
“Zanu PF condemns acts of violence against journalists and we want to guarantee safety of
journalists.”
Political analyst and author Edgar Benjamin said perpetrators of political violence should never be
accepted in a democratic society.
“There is no bravery or success in political violence and it should not be tolerated in any election,”
he said.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been talking about a peaceful poll and journalists should
promote peace,” he said.