adminAuxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
ZANU-PF Bulawayo province Women’s league secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Maidei Mpala has won the Zanu-PF Lobengula primary elections giving her the ticket to represent the party in the June 10 by-elections. Mpala garnered 327 votes while the other two candidates, Delight Ngwenya and Tariro Zhou received 223 votes and 115 votes respectively.
There was a re-run yesterday after Zhou, who had been disqualified, was re-admitted into the race.
Returning officer, Politburo member Cde Thokozile Mathuthu said the elections were free and fair.
“The elections were fair and I would like to commend party members for the peace and unity that prevailed during the whole process,” she said.
Cde Mathuthu urged both the winners and losers to unite and work together during campaigns for the by-elections.
Mpala’s election came a day after Zanu-PF had held polls in the other two constituencies.
Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube won the Makokoba ticket and Cde Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo will be the party’s candidate for Luveve constituency.
Cdes Joseph Tshuma (Mpopoma-Pelandaba) and Godfrey Malaba (Pumula) sailed through unopposed to bring the number of Zanu-PF candidates to five.
The five candidates are expected to file their papers with the Nomination Court today, a date proclaimed by President Robert Mugabe to fill 14 parliamentary vacancies arising from the expulsion of MDC Renewal MPs from the legislative assembly after they defected from the MDC-T.
Among those who were part of the election observers are Minister of State for Harare Province Miriam Chikukwa, Minister of State Matabeleland South Abednico Ncube, Minister of State for Bulawayo Province Cde Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, Central Committee member Judith Ncube, former Matabeleland South governor Angeline Masuku and senior party leaders from the three provinces.
Thirty two party members in Bulawayo had expressed interest in contesting in the primary elections for the five constituencies.
Politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu pulled out of the party’s primary elections for the Mpopoma-Pelandaba constituency while Central Committee member, Cde Mpehlabayo Malinga also withdrew his candidature for Makokoba saying his name was submitted while he was abroad.
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