Harare (New Ziana) – Eleven aspiring presidential candidates, out of 21 applicants, have been cleared to run in the upcoming general election, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said on Thursday.
The country will hold combined presidential, parliamentary and local government elections on August 23 to choose new representatives for the next five years.
Election nomination courts sat countrywide on Wednesday to register candidates vying to contest in the polls.
ZEC deputy chairperson, Rodney Kiwa said a total of 21 presidential aspirants filed nomination papers to run in the election, but ten were dropped for various reasons.
“There were 21 presidential candidates in all, and out of this 11 were successful. Ten were rejected for various reasons,” he said.
Among those successful is President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is seeking a second term, and is considered the front runner in the race.
His main challenger, opposition Citizens Coalition for Change leader, Nelson Chamisa, also successfully registered to run in the election.
Other qualifying presidential candidates were Douglas Mwonzora of the MDC-T, ex-minister Saviour Kasukuwere running as an independent, NCA leader Prof. Lovelorn Madhuku, Joseph Makamba of FREEZIM Congress, Chikohora Trust Tapiwa of ZCPD, Kasiyamhuru Blessing of ZIPP, Mubaiwa Wilbert Archbald of NPC, Gwinyai Henry of the UANC and Wilson Harry Peter of DOP.
Kiwa did not reasons why the other applicants fell by the way side.
In the last election in 2018, a total of 23 presidential candidates took part in the poll, the biggest number in the country’s history.
Kiwa said the names of successful parliamentary and local government candidates will be announced at the end of this month.
New Ziana
