Marondera (New Ziana) – Two aspiring legislators in Mashonaland East Province eying to represent the ruling ZANU-PF party in by-elections slated for March were axed from the race on Wednesday.

No reason was given for the disqualification of Noah Mangondo and Richard Mavhunga, who were eying the party ticket for the vacant Murewa South and Marondera Central parliamentary seats respectively in the March 26 by-elections.

Another aspirant, Chamunorwa Manyange, who was eying the vacant local government seat in Murewa district, was also axed from the race.

The three had wanted to take part in Friday’s primary elections to be held in the province to choose candidates who will represent ZANU-PF in the by-elections.

The by-elections will be held in dozens of parliamentary constituencies and local government jurisdictions countrywide to replace office holders who either died, or were recalled by their parties or re-assigned.

The Murewa South parliamentary seat was left vacant by the death of Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Joel Biggie Matiza, while the Marondera Central seat became vacant after the recall of Movement for Democratic Change Alliance legislator, Caston Matewu.

The disqualification of Mangondo and Mavhunga leaves five aspiring primary elections ZANU-PF candidates for the Murewa South constituency, and seven for Marondera Central.

Party provincial chairman, Daniel Garwe urged all losing candidates to take heart and rally behind the winners to help retain or wrestle the seats from the opposition.

“Let’s unite after the primary elections, the party is bigger than individuals, losing candidates should accept defeat,” he said.

New Ziana