Campaign for Chiwundura by-election in full swing

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
ZANU-PF Midlands Province has said its campaign to retain the Chiwundura parliamentary seat is in full swing ahead of the constituency’s by-election scheduled for July 15.

The party’s candidate Cde Brown Ndlovu said he was confident of winning the seat.

“We have launched our campaign in the constituency and we have been holding rallies and funding self-help projects for the youth and women’s league. With less than two weeks before the election, we are certain that we are going to retain that parliamentary seat,” said Cde Ndlovu.

“The people in the constituency have shown tremendous support for the revolutionary party.”

Zanu-PF provincial spokesperson Cde Cornelius Mupereri said the Chiwundura by-election results would be a reflection of what is going to happen in the 2018 harmonised elections.

“Our machinery is well-oiled and we are going to collect all the parliamentary seats in the province come 2018,” he said.

Cde Ndlovu was the first runner-up in the Chiwundura primaries last month.

He, however, was declared the party’s candidate after the primary polls winner, former Zvishavane legislator, Cde Pearson Meeting Mbalekwa, withdrew his candidature citing personal reasons.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared the Chiwundura parliamentary seat vacant following the death of Chiwundura MP Cde Kizito Chivamba in April.

President Mugabe subsequently declared July 15 as the date for the by-election.

Cde Chivamba, a former Zanu-PF Midlands deputy chairman, was declared a liberation war hero and buried at the Midlands Provincial Heroes’ Acre in Gweru.

@pchitumba1