Zanu PF, independents to contest Harare East, Mt Pleasant by-elections  

Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter

The ruling Zanu PF and three independent candidates will go into battle next month to contest in the Harare East and Mt Pleasant parliamentary by-elections.

Vacancies in the two constituencies arose following the resignations of opposition CCC lawmakers Allan Markham and Fadzayi Mahere.

The two resigned from their seats after former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa quit the opposition party.  The duo had won the seats in last year’s harmonised presidential, parliamentary and council elections.

The Nomination Court for the April 27 by-elections sat on Tuesday at Harare Magistrates Court and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has since announced the duly nomination candidates for the polls.

ZEC nomination officer Mr Austin Ndlovu said Cheza Ropafadzo Cynthia (independent) and Mutimbanyoka Kiven (Zanu PF) were duly nominated to contest the Harare East constituency by-election.

In Mt Pleasant Constituency, Mamuse Nason (independent), Mashavave George (Zanu PF) and Ticky Brian (independent) successfully presented their nomination papers.

“Since more than one candidate has been duly nominated in the Harare East and Mt Pleasant National Assembly constituencies, a poll shall take place on Saturday 27 April 2024 in accordance with subsection 17 paragraph C of Section 46 of the Electoral Act Chapter 213 as read with proclamation of Number 1 of 2024,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said inspection of lodged nomination papers will be done by any registered voters from the respective constituencies on Wednesday.

“It’s provided for in the law. The court will be open from 8 o’clock up to 5 pm for that purpose,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said a multi-party liaison committee will be formed to monitor the conduct of candidates during the campaign period.

“Soon after this nomination court, we are going to form a multi-party liaison committee according to Section 160B Subsection 2 paragraph B of the Electoral Act Chapter 218. The date for the first meeting will be advised in due course.

“The code of conduct forms that you have signed as candidates are not ceremonial documents but are supposed to be read and their contents should be internalised to ensure you adhere to the provisions of that code of conduct. It’s imperative upon each and every candidate to impress upon their supporters to ensure that the code is adhered to. It is one of the issues that will be discussed in the first meeting in the first multi-party liaison committee meeting,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu expressed concern over the late submission of nomination papers by candidates.

“It’s not really exciting when the law provides for the submission of nomination papers soon after the proclamation prior to the sitting of this nomination court.

“The reason why we are seated here now at this time of the day is because some choose to come at the eleventh hour and it’s not exciting.

“Please let’s impress upon each other to make sure that we do things timeously.

“It saves time for all of us,” he said.