ZANU PF is ready for the looming by-elections in both senatorial, parliamentary and local authority around the country, the party’s national Political Commissar Cde Mike Bimha has said
The ruling party is geared to win the seats it lost to the opposition in August this year and increase its tally in the legislature.
The by-elections were caused by death, while some were due to recalls due to internal fighting within CCC.
The party recalled 15 of its parliamentarians from parliamentary, and nine from the Senate on grounds they were irregularly imposed on the CCC ticket in the August elections.
In Gutu West constituency by-election, the polls were cancelled after the death of one of the candidates on the eve of the August general elections.
Zanu PF has already launched the Gutu West campaign to drum up support for its candidate Cde John Paradza who is also the deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs.
The party is determined to win the seat and consolidate its dominance in the province.
The Gutu West elections could not be held on August 23 together with the rest of the general elections, following the death of an independent candidate Christopher Mutonho in a road traffic accident.
Several by-elections are due next month and in December in a number of constituencies following the postponement of the polls, and recalls of legislators.
This will be followed in December to replace legislators that CCC recalled from both the lower house and the senate.
The opposition party CCC lost 15 members of the National Assembly and Senate and several councillors largely from Matabeleland Province.
President Mnangagwa has already proclaimed December 9 as the date for by-elections for the nine vacancies created in the National Assembly following the recall of 15 Citizens Coalition for Change legislators
The Nomination Court will sit on November 7.
The vacancies were created by the recall of the legislators by the party’s interim secretary-general Mr Sengezo Tshabangu.
The dates are contained in a proclamation contained in Statutory Instrument 188 of 2023.
The by-elections will be held in nine constituencies with six of the 15 MPs recalled having been elected through proportional representation
Cde Bimha said the party was fully geared for the by-elections, and will try its best to win them to increase its seats in both chambers of Parliament.
“We were ready yesterday, so we are ever ready.
“We are prepared for all the by-elections that are coming in November as well as in December. We will make sure we win most, if not all, the seats in those by-elections,” said Cde Bimha.
The revolutionary party is also seeking to fish from the opposition in Bulawayo.
“We are determined to win all the by-elections from Bulawayo. We will put more energy in ensuring the party reclaim the seats from the opposition”.
The opposition party CCC is sharply divided because of an ensuing power struggle which has paralysed it from within.
Herald
