Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka recently in Tsholotsho
SEVEN candidates have successfully filed nomination papers to contest in the Tsholotsho Rural District Council (RDC) 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. He said the nomination process proceeded smoothly, with no candidate turned away. 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.
The councillors had been suspended in February this year by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, before an independent tribunal was appointed to investigate the allegations and allow them to respond to the charges.
Following the dismissals, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) proclaimed June 20, 2026, as the date for the by-elections.
Speaking after successfully filing her nomination papers, Ward 10 Zanu-PF candidate Cde Ndlovu said the ruling party was poised for victory.
“I am confident that our party is going to win resoundingly, and I want to thank the entire leadership of Matabeleland North Province and His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa for leading the country towards Vision 2030. I am happy that we are going into these by-elections after our province successfully supported the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) ,” she said.
Ward 21 aspiring candidate Cde Mvundla said Zanu-PF was ready to reclaim the seat from the opposition.
“I have successfully filed my papers, and I am confident of reclaiming this seat, which has been in the hands of the opposition,” he said.
Ward 1 candidate Cde Mkwananzi also expressed optimism about victory.“Although the seat has been in the hands of the opposition, I am confident that we are going to win,” she said.
Zapu candidate Mr Ncube commended the nomination process, describing it as smooth and peaceful.
“The process went well without any challenges and we are happy with how everything was handled,” he said.
Zanu-PF Commissariat Officer for Matabeleland North Province, Cde Mandlakayise Sibanda, who supervised the party’s aspiring candidates during the nomination process, said the ruling party was satisfied with the proceedings.
“We have completed that task, and the candidates have filed their nomination papers. I am here representing the Provincial Commissariat Department, and we are confident that in the upcoming elections we will perform very well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF has intensified preparations for the by-elections after successfully conducting primary elections last Saturday to select candidates for the polls.Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial secretary for administration, Cde Douglas Khoza, said the peaceful conduct of the primary polls demonstrated party unity and preparedness ahead of the by-elections.He said the ruling party was confident of retaining the wards, citing ongoing developmental projects being implemented under the Second Republic in Matabeleland North Province.
“This acts as an impetus for the Tsholotsho communities to vote for Zanu-PF. Any opposition party that comes into this race will be competing in an already won race. No one can stop the developmental train driven by His Excellency the President, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, in Matabeleland North.”
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF structures in Tsholotsho have already begun mobilising support ahead of the by-elections, with party officials expressing optimism that the ruling party will secure decisive victories in all the contested wards.
