Harare (New Ziana) – About eleven aspiring presidential candidates, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, on Wednesday registered to contest in the country’s upcoming general elections.
The elections, pencilled for August 23, will have three segments – presidential, local government and parliamentary. The presidential segment was keenly watched to see who, and how many candidates will register.
In the last general elections in 2018, a record number of 23 presidential candidates, including unknown politicians, contested. But this time around, it appeared the number of presidential candidates reduced by more than half, in part due to high registration fees required.
Presidential aspirants required USD20 000 to register to take part in the vote.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, which was registering candidates for the elections countrywide on Wednesday, said it would announce the final tally of successful applicants on Thursday.
But aspiring presidential candidates seen registering at the nomination court at the High Court in Harare numbered around ten.
These included President Mnangagwa, and his main challenger, Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change party.
Other candidates are Douglas Mwonzora, Trust Chikohora, Lovemore Madhuku, Blessing Kasiyamhuru, former youth minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Joseph Makamba Busha, Wilson Harry, Gwinyai Muzorewa while LEAD president Linda Masarirwa was also the only woman to join the contest.
Speaking to journalists after filing President Mnangagwa’s nomination papers, his chief election agent, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said Zanu PF is ready for the poll.
“We are ready for the election, we just wait to find out who the other candidates are,” he said.
Chamisa was also confident of clinching a victory. “Victory is certain. Victory is obvious,” he said.
LEAD presidential candidate Masarira bemoaned the high nomination fees saying it almost prohibited her from contesting. “It has been a mammoth task (raising the nomination fees). Our public offices are now a preserve for the rich, a preserve for the elite,” she said.
Lovemore Madhuku, a presidential aspirant for National Constitutional Assembly said it was almost impossible for his party to raise his nomination fees.
“It was almost impossible. We were very ambitious initially we thought it would never come to pass. “Our party decided that we will field the presidential candidate then look for our top ten performing national assembly members and several councillors. For us, we had to raise $20 000 for the presidency and $10 000 for the MPs.
“We will be fighting with a very vigorous campaign. We were unable to field candidates all over in terms of national elections, but we start our campaign in ernest,” he said.
New Ziana
