adminThe election was conducted by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officials on Friday at Mkwati Building in Harare ahead of the harmonised elections on July 31.
The election involved the nomination of candidates to contest the presidency, but Chief Charumbira and Chief Khumalo did not go to the second round because they were overwhelmingly endorsed by the electoral college that consisted of 35 chiefs drawn from the country’s eight rural provinces.
Chief Charumbira was nominated by 34 chiefs against one for Chief Zvimba, while Chief Khumalo received 33 nominations against two for Chief Norbert Musarurwa.
To go to the second round, each of the nominees was supposed to have garnered two or more nominations.
Chief Musarurwa declined the nomination, saying he was not interested in contesting Chief Khumalo, while Chief Zvimba failed to meet the requirement to enter the contest.
Presiding officer Mr Japhet Murenje declared Chief Charumbira and Chief Khumalo duly elected after going through the nomination process.
He said the two chiefs would be sworn in as senators together with other senators after the July 31 poll.
Chief Charumbira thanked his colleagues for showing confidence in his leadership. “This election is a harbinger of a successful July 31 poll,” he said. “Thank you Zec for the good organisation of this election.”
Chief Charumbira said the election was done without the inducement of voters as opposed to what politicians do.
“The chiefs have shown they are different from politicians,” he said. “No bribes were involved. What we see in the rural areas is a fast-food campaign by some politicians. They are slaughtering cattle to bribe people. Some are giving out sugar, salt and other perishables.
“What we want is real development that benefits people. We have been elected to achieve development for the people.”)
The chiefs who elected Chief Charumbira and Chief Khumalo came from the provinces where they were elected to the Council of Chiefs two weeks ago.
The chiefs will convene again on August 3 to elect 16 of their representatives who will take up seats in the Senate. Zec commissioner Dr Petty Makoni urged the Chiefs’ Council to spearhead peace, good governance and to always preach peace ahead of the elections.
“I urge you to always talk peace to the people that you lead,” she said.
The election of the Chiefs’ Council presidency is part of the electoral process leading to the harmonised elections and it followed the special voting exercise by security forces and Zec officials last week.
Online Reporter