Zanu PF takes early lead in by-elections

Harare (New Ziana) – The ruling Zanu PF party has bagged Ward 14 in Umguza Rural District Council, taking an early lead before the March 26 by-elections after its candidate was the only aspirant to successfully lodge nomination papers last week, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has announced.

Riding on the unprecedented economic and infrastructural development spearheaded by the Second Republic, Zanu PF is targeting a clean sweep in the by-elections.

The party has placed top priority on reclaiming opposition run urban councils that have failed to deliver adequate service over the years.

Zimbabwe will hold by-elections for 28 Parliamentary constituencies and over 100 local authority seats on March 26.

Giving an update on the impending elections, ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said all other constituencies and wards with the exception of Ward 14 in Umguza will be contested.

“In ward 14 of Umguza RDC, Ncube Delay from Zanu PF party was the only successful candidate to lodge his nomination papers and was duly elected as the councillor for that ward with effect from January 26, 2022,” he said.

“The Commission has also received two more vacancies for Ward 20 of Chitungwiza Municipality and ward 3 of Gokwe North RDC. The nomination court for the two will sit on 22 February 2022 and polling conducted together with the rest if it becomes necessary.”

Silaigwana said the Commission would publish the names of all successful candidates soon and reminded contesting political parties and aspirants that they were bound by a code of conduct.

“Briefly, they are reminded to desist from an y conduct that is prohibited in the electoral law, including but not limited to, use of violence or threats of violence, use of hateful language, intimidation, bribery and damage to property,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zec apologised to the Citizens Coalition for Convergence for an administrative error that had disqualified a prospective aspirant from filing their nomination papers for Ward 12 of Chinhoyi Municipality.

“ZEC would like to advise stakeholders that we have checked the National voters’ roll and can confirm that Mr (Dyke) Makumbi’s initial nominators, who had inadvertently been recorded as not on the voter roll were registered to vote in 2018 and are eligible to vote in the forth-coming by-elections and the 2023 general elections.

“ZEC would like to unreservedly apologise to the candidate and the four nominators who are all registered voters. The anomaly arose due to administrative errors which we can confirm have been corrected.”

A prospective candidate is required to submit, along with their nomination papers, a list of nominators supporting their candidature.

New Ziana