HARARE – The Nomination Court is scheduled to convene in Harare and Bulawayo for political parties to submit papers from candidates participating in the upcoming by-elections set for December 9.
Among the contenders is Pedzisai “Scott” Sakupwanya, who is aspiring to represent Mabvuku-Tafara.
The December by-elections follow the declaration of vacancies in Parliament by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, following numerous recalls initiated by Sengezo Tshabangu.
Tshabangu declared himself the interim secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially set December 9 as the date for the by-elections through Statutory Instrument 188 of 2023.
Efforts by the recalled CCC MPs to seek redress at the High Court proved unsuccessful when Justice Munamato Mutevedzi ruled in favor of Tshabangu over the weekend.
The recalled CCC legislators include Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West), Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North), Nicola Jane Watson (Bulawayo South), Pashor Raphael Sibanda (Cowdray Park), Ereck Gono (Lobengula-Magwegwe), and Bright Moyo Vanya (Lupane East).
Also recalled were Febion Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi (Mabvuku-Tafara), Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma-Mzilikazi), and Obert Manduna (Nketa).
Kufahakutizwi, who narrowly defeated Zanu PF’s Scott Sakupwanya in the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency during the August 23 and 24 harmonized elections, is set to face off against Sakupwanya once again.
Sakupwanya expressed his determination to return to the political arena, stating, “Elections come and go, and that does not stop me from supporting and providing for my people whenever I have something to offer. I will file my nomination papers on Tuesday.”
The by-elections are set to be a significant political event in Zimbabwe, determining the representation of several constituencies in the nation’s Parliament.
