THE MDC Alliance is gearing up its structures for a
showdown with Zanu PF in Mutoko North Constituency which became vacant
following the elevation of incumbent legislator, Mabel Chinomona as Senate
president.
The alliance’s Mashonaland East chairperson Piniel Denga
yesterday said the provincial council had resolved that Bornface Mushore, who
polled 3 151 votes against Chinomona’s 16 902 in the July 30 election, be given
a second chance to contest the seat.
“The provincial council sat last Sunday and later we held a
meeting with district members of that constituency and it was resolved that
Mushore is the candidate,” he said.
According to Section 129 (1) (d) of the Constitution, the
seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant on the member becoming Senate
president or Speaker of the National Assembly.
Mushore lost to Chinomona before approaching the courts
seeking the nullification of the results alleging massive rigging.
“We have put out campaign teams on the ground to start
voter mobilisation.
Chinomona did not win in that constituency, that is why we
had appealed to the Electoral Court for the results to be nullified.
However, the matter has still not been heard by the
courts,” Denga said. “People have realised that voting for Zanu PF is waste of
time. The cost of living is getting high everyday.
They are not going to be fooled again this time.” The opposition party won two of the 23 constituencies in
the province — Marondera Central and Goromonzi South.
Caston Matewu defeated Zanu PF’s Cleopas Kundiona in
Marondera Central, while Reuben Chikudo won against former Cabinet minister
Petronella Kagonye.
The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance said it will
participate in all by-elections and will continue pushing for electoral reforms
ahead of 2023 general elections.
“We will participate in all the elections in Zimbabwe. It is important for us to use these elections to strengthen
laws that govern the conduct of polls and further to ensure that we win in what
are considered Zanu PF strongholds,” the party’s national youth leader
Happymore Chidziva said.
The Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn) in a
post-election report urged Parliament to ensure that it takes on board
recommendations by observer missions in the recent polls.
“The observer missions came up with a raft of
recommendations that must be effected to improve the electoral landscape in Zimbabwe
and the Ninth Parliament will have to ensure that electoral laws are
strengthened to address the issues raised,” Zesn said.
Among the issues that needed attention was an improvement
in ballot paper designing, printing and transportation and access to the
voters’ roll. Newsday
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