Five eye Presidency

President Mugabe and Professor Welshman Ncube of the MDC.
Zimbabwe Development Party leader Mr Kisinoti Mukwazhe and Dr Dumiso Dabengwa of Zapu also successfully filed their papers.
However, another presidential hopeful Mr Mutumwa Mawere of the Zimbabwe Movement for Democracy had his papers rejected for undisclosed reasons.

Mr Langton Towungana (Independent), Mr Gibbs Paul Gotora of the Zimbabwe Organised Open Party, Anslem Karimupfumbi of Rusununguko United People’s Party, Mr Joseph Bushu Makamba of Free Zimbabwe Congress and Reverend Gerald Mubaira of Multiracial Christian Democrats also had their papers rejected.
The Nomination Court sat at the High Court from 10am to midnight.

“Since more than one candidate has been duly nominated for the office of the President, a poll shall take place on Wednesday 31st of July in accordance with section 110 of the Electoral Act as read with Proclamation Number 2 of 2013,” said Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chief elections officer Mr Lovemore Sekeramayi at the closure of the Nomination Court.

President Mugabe’s papers were filed by Defence Minister and Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, while Mr Tsvangirai had his lodged by Dr Alex Magaisa who was accompanied by the party’s secretary-general Mr Tendai Biti and organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa.
Mr Mukwazhe personally filed in his papers, while Dr Dabengwa’s were filed by his deputy Ms Emilia Mukaratirwa.

Speaking to journalists after filing President Mugabe’s papers, Cde Mnangagwa said: “We have come to the end of the inclusive Government and we of Zanu-PF are confident we will have a landslide victory with our President Mugabe because of progressive policies we have put across to our people.

“During primary elections we had an average 10 000 voters coming to participate. Other parties were running with around 56 to 70 voters.”
Cde Mnangagwa dismissed claims that President Mugabe was not feeling well, telling a journalist who had asked him about the President’s health that “he is fitter than you. He is a careful man. He has gone for normal medical check up for his eye”.

Mr Biti said he felt honoured to file Mr Tsvangirai’s papers.
“We filed the president’s papers. It was such an honour,” he said.

Asked whether this would put to rest MDC-T’s court applications against the holding of elections on July 31, Mr Biti said: “The court cases were very important to restore legitimacy to all the unconstitutional things we were doing.”

He complained that the proclamation was made without an Act of Parliament.
“When you are faced with an illegality, you have to make two decisions: to ignore the illegality or to reserve our right.
“We have reserved our right because millions of Zimbabweans want change and so we have to balance those interests,” he said.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga filed Prof Ncube’s papers, dealing MDC-T’s grand coalition dream a blow.
She professed ignorance over the grand coalition project, saying her party has never sat down with anyone to discuss the idea of ganging up against Zanu-PF in the forthcoming polls.

Zapu also snubbed the grand coalition.
“Our candidate is Dr Dumiso Dabengwa. I cannot comment on the grand coalition,” said Ms Mukaratirwa.
Even as she filed Dr Dabengwa’s papers, she claimed grand coalition talks were still underway but parties have not agreed on the choice of a single candidate.
“We do not have a position as yet as Zapu. No position has been reached,” Ms Mukaratirwa said.

ZDP’s Mr Mukwazhe said he was positive about causing a major surprise in the presidential race.
“I am certain I am going to show a big impact on the ground. We are going to make some surprise. We are for the voiceless people. If we employ our tactics well we are going to do something big,” he said.

Mr Mukwazhe would, however, not tell journalists how many candidates his party was fielding.
Notable absentees were MDC president Professor Arthur Mutambara and Job Sikhala of MDC99, who did not file in their papers.

According to the Electoral Act, all candidates eyeing the presidency are supposed to bring names of 100 registered voters, 10 per province for their applications to be accepted.
The Nomination Court for Members of the House of Assembly, senatorial, women’s quota and provincial councils went on smoothly in some parts of the country although some results could not be obtained in provinces such as Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and the Midlands.

The major highlights in some provinces were of heavyweights from  Zanu-PF and MDC formations who filed papers as independents after failing to make it in primaries, while in some constituencies, parties allowed more than one candidate to represent them.

In Harare Province, 153 candidates successfully filed their papers in 29 House of Assembly constituencies.
Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Tendai Savanhu, who was among the first to file papers in Mbare, said he was satisfied with the process.
“I am happy with the way things were handled. I have managed to file my papers and I will be running in Mbare constituency.”

However, MDC-T organising secretary Mr Nelson Chamisa, complained that the process was slow and that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission faced logistical challenges.
“There is a need to better manage the situation. Clearly the process is not as we would have wanted it to be.”
In Masvingo, the three major political parties fielded candidates in all House of Assembly seats.

Announcing the final list of candidates who successfully filed their papers, Masvingo provincial elections officer, Mr Rex Pudurai, said in Bikita West two Zanu-PF candidates, former advisor to Reserve Bank governor Dr Munyaradzi Kereke and musician Cde Elias Musakwa had their papers accepted to stand on the revolutionary party’s ticket.

Another major highlight was in Bikita South where Zanu-PF Women’s League chairperson Cde Shylet Uyoyo filed papers to stand as an independent candidate and would contest against Cde Jappy Jaboon of Zanu-PF and Mr Janhi Vharandani of MDC-T and another candidate from  MDC.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairman Cde Lovemore Matuke, after the sitting of the Nomination Court, said Cde Uyoyo had automatically expelled herself from the party.
In Mashonaland Central, the filing of nomination papers started at a slow pace in the morning with business peaking late in the afternoon when the political parties brought lists of their contesting candidates.

The three major political parties each filed 18 candidates for the House of Assembly, six for Senate, six for women’s quota and 10 for the provincial council, bringing to 123, the number of people who successfully filed their papers.

Zanu PF provincial chairman Cde Dickson Mafios submitted Acting President Joice Mujuru’s papers for the Mt Darwin West constituency where she will contest against MDC-T’s Oliver Kapepa.

The process ended at around midnight in Bindura.
Zanu-PF and MDC-T parties fielded 15 local authority candidates apiece in Beitbridge Rural District Council .
Candidates from the MDC had their papers rejected after they arrived when the Nomination Court had closed.

In Beitbridge town council, Zanu-PF and the MDC-T fielded six candidates each while the other MDC fielded four candidates. One independent candidate had his papers accepted.

At least 83 aspiring National Assembly candidates filed their papers for the 23 constituencies in Mashonaland East province.
Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC fielded candidates in all the constituencies in the province. There are nine independent candidates in the province. Some of them are people who wanted to represent Zanu-PF and MDC-T at the elections but could not get through the primary stages. Among the high profile independent candidates are prominent lawyer Mr Jonathan Samkange for Mudzi South, businessman Mr Daniel Garwe in Murehwa North, Mr Richard Mavunga and Ms Rumbidzai Mujuru of Chikomba Central. The four were disqualified by Zanu-PF to contest the party’s primary elections. Party secretary for security and senior member in the province, Cde Sydney Sekeramayi said the revolutionary party was not going to be distracted by people who opted to stand as independent candidates.

In Marondera Central, Mr Carlos Mudzongo, a suspended MDC-T councillor filed his papers as an independent candidate where outgoing MP, Mr Ian Kay also lodged his papers to represent MDC-T. Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn fielded candidates in two constituencies while Zanu (Ndonga) and Freezim Congress Party are represented in one constituency each.

Some of the high profile contestations will be in Marondera Central where Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Ray Kaukonde will take on Mr Kay of the MDC-T, Mr Kudzanai Mandaza of MDC and Mr Mudzongo-an independent candidate. Chikomba Central is also a high profile clash as MDC national chairman, Mr Goodrich Chimbaira will take on MDC-T provincial chairman for Mashonaland East, Mr Piniel Denga, Zanu-PF’s Cde Felix Mhona and independent candidate Ms Mujuru. In Marondera East, former Zanu-PF legislator for the area, Mrs Tracy Mutinhiri now of the MDC-T will square off against Cde Jeremiah Chiwetu of Zanu-PF and Mr Dominic Tembedza of the MDC. Marondera West recorded the highest number of candidates as six successfully submitted their papers.

In Manicaland province, some rebel candidates from both Zanu-PF and MDC-T filed their papers as independents. Suspended Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Mike Madiro and Cde Dorothy Mabika filed their papers as independents in Mutare North and Chipinge Central respectively.

“I am going to save Zanu-PF from defeat,” said Cde Madiro.
Mr Arnold Tsunga and Minister Giles Mutsekwa who both filed papers under an MDC-T ticket have been told that they will go back to primaries and the loser would have to withdraw. Mr Tsunga went on to sign a sworn statement before a ZEC official as Mr Mutsekwa left the platform. Both candidates are eyeing Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency in Mutare.

All parties successfully filed their papers in Matabeleland North where Zanu-PF candidates Cde Obert Mpofu (Umguza) and Professor Jonathan Moyo (Tsholotsho North) went uncontested. However, results of part of Matabeleland South and the whole of Bulawayo province could not be accessed late last night as the process was still ongoing.