Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka recently in TSHOLOTSHO
SEVEN candidates have successfully filed nomination papers to contest in the Tsholotsho Rural District Council by-elections set for June 20, with the ruling Zanu PF expressing confidence of securing victory in all the contested wards.
The Nomination Court sat at the Tsholotsho RDC offices on Wednesday from 10am to 4pm to receive papers from aspiring candidates for Wards 1, 10 and 21.
In Ward 1, Cde Lindiwe Mkwananzi of Zanu PF will contest against independent candidate Mr Solani Mlilo.
Ward 10 attracted three candidates, namely Cde Simbisai Ndlovu (Zanu PF), Mr Mchlukanisi Washington Ncube (Zapu) and independent candidate Mr Ntando Siziba.
In Ward 21, Cde Phillip Mvundla of Zanu PF will square off against independent candidate Mr Marx Sibanda.
Nomination officer Mr Phanankosi Mpofu said all aspiring candidates who submitted their papers were successfully processed.
The by-elections were necessitated by the dismissal of three Tsholotsho RDC councillors following an independent tribunal probe into allegations of criminal abuse of office and fraud.
The affected wards fell vacant after Government dismissed the councillors following investigations into allegations involving abuse of CAMPFIRE funds and other offences.
The councillors who had been under investigation are Witness Khumalo (Ward 1), Jonathan Ndlovu (Ward 10) and Felix Tshuma (Ward 21), among others.
