…former MDC heavyweights seek a come back under the CCC banner
Itai Muzondo
GWERU: The nomination court for the Midlands Province sat at Gweru Provincial magistrate court today with ZANU PF representative Vongai Mupereri pulling a shocker after he was seen filling nomination papers regardless of ZEC’s announcement that there will be no by-election in the constituency he is eyeing, Mbizo.
Former MDC Alliance heavyweights, Amos Chibaya and Josiah Makombe are also seeking a comeback after their President Nelson Chamisa rebranded their party to Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in a bid to evade continued drama over party ownership.
“It’s not about the mayoral sit for me. It’s about the people. I will file for nomination especially since I have had broad consultations with President Chamisa about what we represent,” Makombe told CommuTalk in a telephone interview.
Chibaya was not available for comment though he was among listed candidates that include Mutegwe Elias (Gokwe Central), Tobaiwa Judith (Kwekwe Central), and Davies Shoko (Mberengwa South) and will be contesting in the oncoming by-elections under the CCC banner.
Contestant’s vying for the Mkoba Constituency seat, which Chibaya filled before his recall had the following to say:
“I am happy that I have attended to on time. The people are doing their job well. I must say the hurdle is over and I am now geared to put smiles on the people of the Mkoba constituency. I want to promise the President that the seat is now coming to ZANU PF,” said William Gondo of ZANU PF.
“I haven’t managed to finalize the process as yet. However, I am confident that I will finish on time. I can’t promise the people much as I am confident that the people of Mkoba know what they want and all that will come from me representing my MDC-T party,” also said Albert Chadoka of the Mwonzora led MDC Alliance.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba who was monitoring the process in Gweru is equally happy with the smooth flow of events in the Midlands province.
“It’s been quite a hectic morning for my team but they managed to open the process well on time. I am very happy that the COVID 19 protocols are being followed as we are taking temperatures at the door. Luckily no one has been turned away for exhibiting high temperatures.
“There has been no incident of violence so far recorded. Initially, there were five seats for the national assembly and one for the Mbizo constituency that had to be dropped at the eleventh hour after a high court order to such effect. There are also 13 local authority seats. We are ready to go beyond four PM if there are still more people to be served since the electoral law allows us to do that,” Chigumba said.
The sitting of the nomination court this today paves way for the candidates who have successfully filed their nomination papers to go into the battle of replacing vacant seats in the national assembly and local authorities.
