Kwekwe (New Ziana) – Former Kwekwe deputy mayor John Mapurazi on Friday won the right to represent ZANU-PF in the Kwekwe Central parliamentary by-election after the disqualification of two other aspiring candidates due to allegations of vote buying and violence.
Mapurazi will go into battle against candidates from opposition parties in the by-election scheduled for March 26.
The seat was left vacant following the death of Masango “Blackman” Matambanadzo, who was the only legislator representing the National Patriotic Front (NPF) in parliament.
The late legislator first won the seat on a Zanu-PF ticket in 2013 elections before again winning it on a NPF ticket following his dismissal from the ruling party.
ZANU-PF Midlands provincial chairperson, Larry Mavima confirmed the disqualification of Kwekwe Central shadow MP Archbishop Kandros Mugabe and Energy “Dhala” Ncube, who is nephew to fired State Security Minister, Owen “Mudha” Ncube.
The two aspiring candidates were disqualified a few days before the party’s Friday primary elections, due to allegations of bringing the name of the party into disrepute through violence and vote buying, leaving the race to Mapurazi.
In a statement, Energy Ncube accepted the party’s decision and pledged to rally behind Mapurazi.
In October 2021, violence erupted at the Kwekwe District party offices leading to the postponement of the primary elections pitting Mugabe and Energy Ncube.
Muparazi is likely to meet the MDC Alliance’s Judith Tobaiwa, Arnold Panganai of the Zimbabwe People’s Party (ZPP) and Tafadzwa Ziso of the NPF in the by-election.
New Ziana