Vusumuzi Dube
George Maponga in Masvingo
The nomination court for candidates eyeing National Assembly seats in Masvingo sat yesterday with chaos marring the opposition CCC party led by Mr Nelson Chamisa as members almost traded blows outside the court as they quarelled over the final list of candidates.
The development comes as Zanu PF candidates all successfully filed their papers for both National Assembly and council election in the province.
It was the CCC party which was left with an egg on the face as candiates almost traded blows,pushed and shoved outside the Masvingo magistrates court-the seat of the nomination court-as they haggled over the final list of candidats.Sanity finally prevaived before the situation spiralled out of control.
However, for CCC Mayor Councilor Collins Maboke filed his papers to contest Masvingo Urban National Assembly seat as an independent candidate officially renouncing his membership of the party.
The situation was the same in Chiredzi West where former Chiredzi council chair Councillor Gibsob Hwende also reportedly filed papers to contest as an independent candidate.
Councillor Maboke will slug it out of Cde Wellington Mahwende of Zanu PF, Mr Martin Mureri of CCC while in Chiredzi Central Councillor Hwende will battle it out with Cde Francis Moyo of Zanu PF and Ms Ropafadzo Makumire of CCC.
Speaking after filing his papers as an independent candidate Councillor Maboke said he was no longer a CCC member.
“I am contesting the Masvingo Urban seat as an indepedent candidate because I was disqualified from standing as a CCC candidate without explanation.For now I am independent and dont have a party if ever I am going to be CCC member again it will be some time under new circumstances,”said the ex-Masvingo mayor.
The chaos in CCC candidates’ filing of nomination papers saw them delaying submission of their papers though some of them played down the delays saying the move was strategic.
In Gutu Central journalist and Masvingo Mirror publisher Mr Mathew Takaona will represent CCC after successfully filing his papers and will square off with Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando the incumbent MP.
Mr Takaona said he is confident of romping to victory
Bongani Ndlovu