HARARE – Zanu PF’s Pedzisayi Scott Sakupwanya has emerged victorious in the Mabvuku-Tafara parliamentary constituency, securing an uncontested win after the withdrawal of an earlier court order barring eight recalled CCC MPs from participating in Saturday’s by-elections.
Justice Never Katiyo, who initially issued the order, withdrew it on Thursday, paving the way for Sakupwanya‘s uncontested victory.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana confirmed Sakupwanya’s election.
“Since there were only two candidates nominated for the Mabvuku-Tafara National Assembly constituency by-election, Sakupwanya Pedzisayi of Zanu PF is the sole candidate that was duly nominated, hence there will be no by-election in that constituency on 9 December 2023.
“Consequently, the public is hereby notified that Pedzisayi Sakupwanya of Zanu PF has been duly elected member of the National Assembly for Mabvuku-Tafara constituency with effect from 9 December 2023.”
The withdrawal of the court order followed the addition of Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi to the list of CCC legislators disqualified from running in the by-election.
CCC contest Scott Sakupwanya ‘win’
Kufahakutizwi joined other CCC lawmakers who faced disqualification after a High Court order prevented them from seeking re-election under the CCC banner.
CCC, led by Nelson Chamisa, contested the disqualification, asserting that their candidates would participate in the by-election.
The party’s spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi, stated, “Our team has successfully served ZEC through the Chief of Elections Utoile Silaigwana with our court appeal and a letter of all our legitimate candidates to be included on the ballot for tomorrow’s by-election.
“The statement by Silaigwana that he has removed candidates is therefore nullified by the court appeal,” he added.
CCC remains committed to pursuing political solutions to Zimbabwe’s political crisis and has sought the support of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in this endeavor.
