Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka in Tsholotsho
THE Nomination Court is sitting at the Tsholotsho Rural District Council (RDC) offices today to receive nomination papers from aspiring candidates seeking to contest in the Tsholotsho Rural District Council (RDC) by-elections scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The court, which is sitting from 10 am to 4 pm, will determine the final list of candidates contesting in the polls for Wards 1, 10 and 21, with prospective candidates from various political parties and independent hopefuls expected to file their papers.
By this morning, the three ZANU PF candidates for the respective wards had arrived at the Tsholotsho RDC offices and were waiting to file their nomination papers before the Nomination Court.
No other candidates from other parties had arrived at the start of the process.
The by-elections were necessitated by the dismissal of three Tsholotsho Rural District Council councillors following an independent tribunal probe into allegations of criminal abuse of office and fraud.
The affected wards fell vacant after the Government dismissed the councillors following investigations into allegations involving abuse of Campfire funds and other offences.
The councillors who had been under investigation are Witness Khumalo (Ward 1), Jabulani Sigagula (Ward 7), Busani Vundla (Ward 6), Jonathan Ndlovu (Ward 10) and Felix Tshuma (Ward 21)
Following their suspension in February this year by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, an independent tribunal was appointed to investigate the allegations and allow the councillors to respond to the charges.
Three councillors were subsequently dismissed, paving the way for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to proclaim June 20, 2026, as the date for the by-elections.
The dismissed councillors are reportedly challenging their dismissal at the High Court.
ZANU PF has already intensified preparations for the by-elections after successfully conducting primary elections last Saturday to select candidates for the polls.
In Ward 1, Cde Lindiwe Mkhwananzi won the primary election after polling 150 votes against Cde Mavis Gumbi’s 72 votes, while Cde Mthabisisi Vundla and Cde Samson Mzondo Ncube garnered 12 and 10 votes respectively. A total of 248 votes were cast, with four spoiled ballots recorded.
Ward 10 was won by Cde Simbisai Ndlovu, who secured 345 votes ahead of Cde Thuleleni Tshuma’s 129 votes, while Cde Phillip Dube polled 35 votes. A total of 521 votes were cast, including 12 spoiled ballots.
In Ward 21, Cde Phillip Mvundla emerged victorious after garnering 135 votes against Cde Britain Sibanda’s 109 votes. Of the 252 total votes cast, eight ballots were spoiled.
Speaking after the primary elections, Zanu-PF Matabeleland North Provincial Secretary for Administration, Cde Douglas Khoza, said the internal polls were conducted peacefully and reflected the party’s organisational strength in the province.
Cde Khoza expressed confidence that ZANU PF would comfortably retain the wards, citing developmental projects being implemented under the Second Republic in Matabeleland North Province.
