Harare (New Ziana)-Nomination Courts for the March 26 Parliamentary and local authority by-elections sat throughout the countrywide on Wednesday to receive nomination papers from candidates interested in participating in the polls.

At least 22 National Assembly and 120 local authority seats are up for grabs in the by-elections.

The Nomination Courts, which opened at 10 AM, were expected to close at 4 PM.

In Harare, the Nomination Court for the National Assembly sat at the Harare Magistrates Court, while local authority prospective candidates filed their papers at the Town House.

ZEC cancelled by-elections in five constituencies after the High Court nullified the recalls of the incumbents by the opposition MDC-T.

Constituencies where by-elections were cancelled include Harare East held by Tendai Biti, Mbizo held by Settlement Chikwinya, Kambuzuma occupied by Willas Madzimure, Mutasa South held by Regai Tsunga, Nkulumane held by Sichelesile Mahlangu and Pumula held by Kucaca Phulu.

Zec also cancelled the by-election which was supposed to be held in ward 3 in Bulawayo.

Speaking in Gweru where she observed the Nomination Court process at the Gweru Magistrates Court, ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said the process was peaceful.

“We opened at 10 AM and the situation is peaceful and calm. We are observing all Covid-19 protocols and everything is in order,” she told journalists.

New Ziana