Zimbabwe’s governing Zanu PF party is expected to reclaim the parliamentary seat in an easy by-election in Guruve South in Mashonaland Central.
The constituency votes on April 23.
Zanu PF is fielding Patrick Dutiro, who will square off with the National Constitutional Assembly’s Simbarashe Mutsvene. The mainstream MDC is boycotting all elections until fundamental electoral reforms have been enacted.
The seat fell vacant after Zanu PF representative Criswell Mutematsaka lost the seat in terms of section 129(1)(k) of the Constitution after he was expelled from the governing party.
The sudden death on March 17 of Edgar Chidavaenzi, Zanu PF MP for Mazowe North, created another vacancy in the National Assembly. The resulting by-election should be completed within 90 days or not later than June 16.
The statutory instrument calling the by-election has not yet been gazetted.
Zimbabwe Electoral Constitution (Zec)’s General Notice 57/2016, gazetted on March 18, confirms that Zanu PF’s George Gangarahwe was elected a member of the National Assembly with effect from March 6.
On March 18, Zec also gazetted the names of the persons nominated by the respective parties to fill the two party-list vacancies in the Senate.
Tabeth Murwira is Zanu PF’s nominee for the Mashonaland East seat formerly held by Olivia Muchena, while Victor Mapungwana is the mainstream MDC’s nominee for the Bulawayo seat formerly held by Matson Hlalo. Daily News
