Kwekwe(New Ziana) – Ruling ZANU-PF aspiring candidates for the vacant Kwekwe Central parliamentary seat have hit the ground running, and started campaigning ahead of primary elections set to be held this month.
The Kwekwe Central Constituency was left vacant following the death of MP Masango “Blackman” Matambanadzo in July.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said it planned to hold a by-election in the constituency before December 5 this year, while the nomination court is set to sit on October 9 to receive names of candidates from political parties and independent candidates.
ZANU-PF Midlands chairperson Daniel Mackenzie Ncube confirmed that aspiring candidates in Kwekwe Central constituency have started campaigning ahead of the primary elections to be held “anytime soon”.
“What I can say now is that we have started working, though waiting for more guidelines from the party and ZEC on the actual dates of when the elections will be held,” said Mackenzie Ncube.
As part of their campaigns, ZANU-PF aspiring candidates, Bishop Kandros Mugabe and Energy “Dhala” Ncube have been carrying out philanthropic work in the constituency, donating food hampers to the vulnerable people.
Ncube, who is ZANU-PF Youth League Kwekwe District member, is leading the pack in philanthropic work, and last week donated 300 food hampers to the elderly in Dr Mzee District.
Each food hamper contained 10 kg mealie meal, 2 litres cooking oil, 2 kg sugar, 2 kg rice, 2 kg salt and a head of cabbage.
Battle lines have also been drawn in the MDC Alliance camp where former MP Blessing Chebundo and Judith Madzorera, the daughter of former Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Henry Madzorera will lock horns in the party’s primary elections.
Spokesperson for the National Patriotic Front which held the seat, Jealous Mawarire said the party will take part in the by-election.
“In NPF we respect the people, the people of Kwekwe Central know who they want, one of their own like Blackman was. No one in our executive wants the seat for themselves, we want it for the party so a strong people’s person from Kwekwe Central will definitely represent us there,” said Mawarire.
Kwekwe Residents and Ratepayers Association secretary Alex Homela is also rumoured to want to contest in the by-election as an independent candidate.
New Ziana
