Areas without MPs lag behind

Failure to replace these MPs has been blamed     for lack of development in the respective constituencies.
The constituencies that are without legislators are being left out of many development programmes that were supposed to be speared headed by these MPs.
Zimbabwe is a representative democracy so the lack of representation prejudices these constituencies as their issues and views cannot find expression on the national agenda through parliament.

Also, there are about eight senatorial constituencies that do not have senators.
The reduction in the number of MPs since the inclusive government assumed office has left many communities such as those in Bulilima East constituency with no visible development and with confusion among local authorities.
Local governance structures in the constituency were not coherent because they did not have  MPs to provide the link between councillors and senators.
Following the expulsion of the Bulima East constituency’s MP Norman Mpofu, councillors no longer have a good working relationship with their Senator Lutho Tapela.

Constituents said the vacancy has resulted in the constituency seeing no meaningful development, infrastructure becoming obsolete and pertinent issues such as water shortage remaining unattended.
Even after the introduction of the Constituency Development Fund, Bulilima East did not witness any meaningful development.
Recently, MDC-T lost Eliphas Mukonoweshuro MP for Gutu South, bringing the number of the party’s deceased House of Assembly representatives to four.
At the burial of MP Mukonoweshuro people from his constituency said they had been orphaned as they had been left with no representation.

To a greater extent, constituencies that do not have MPs can indeed be likened to orphans because they do not have a leader to address their needs or highlight their plight.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) said in a recent statement that constituencies that have lost MPs face continued marginalisation.
“ZESN notes with concern that the moratorium on by-elections for deceased members of Parliament has adverse consequences for representation of the electorate. The moratorium on by-elections has resulted in some constituencies going without representation thereby creating their marginalisation.

“It is important to begin thinking of mechanisms to ensure these constituencies are represented in Parliament and that their interests are taken into account,” reads the statement.
House of Assembly constituencies which are vacant are Gokwe-Gumunyu (Cde Ephraim Mushoriwa deceased, Zanu-PF), Matobo North (Lovemore Moyo elected Speaker of House of Assembly, MDC-T), Mt Darwin West (retained as Vice-President, Joice Mujuru, Zanu-PF), Guruve North (death of Cde Cletus Mabharanga, Zanu-PF), Bindura North (death of Cde Elliot Manyika, Zanu-PF), Mutare North (Cde Charles Fungai

Pemhenhayi, deceased, Zanu-PF), Nkayi South (Abednico Bhebhe, expelled from MDC-M), Bulilima East (Norman Mpofu, expelled from MDC-M), Lupane East (Njabuliso Mguni, expelled from MDC-M), Emakhandeni-Entumbane (Conelius Raphael Essalph Dube, deceased, MDC-T), Makoni Central (John Nyamande deceased MDC-T), Mabvuku (Shepherd Madamombe deceased MDC-T), Mwenezi West (Cde Neddie Masukume, deceased, Zanu-PF) and Marondera East (Tracy Mutinhiri, fired by Zanu-PF) and Gutu South (MDC-T, Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, deceased).

Political analyst, Dr Lawton Hikwa said the reason there had not been any by-elections was because of the country’s economy.
He said the country could not afford to have elections but since the country was going to hold general elections next year, it was only logical to defer the holding of by-elections.
Dr Hikwa however admitted that constituencies without representatives were being prejudiced.

Professor Jonathan Moyo said the need to hold by-elections had been overtaken by events.
He said the country needed to have harmonised general elections and ensure that all gaps are filled.
Prof Moyo said it was unfortunate and regrettable that the vacant seats in Parliament had not been filled for years, a phenomenon he blamed on the inclusive arrangement.

“Even those constituencies with MPs are affected because we have never had such an arrangement. This is not proper and it is not functioning.
“We cannot say that this is the best Parliament we have had so even if we had by-elections, who would want to join this Parliament?” he asked.

Prof Moyo said there had not been by-elections because the existing system had not been functioning.
“The reason we have not had a by-election is because of the inclusive government. We should just have a general election. Zanu PF is guaranteed a landslide victory,” he said.