adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
ZANU-PF and two opposition parties will participate in the December 19 Nkulumane by-election after their candidates successfully filed their papers with the Nomination Court in Bulawayo yesterday.
Zanu-PF’s Killian Sibanda, the Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe’s Ngwalo Nyathi and Reformed Democrats of Zimbabwe’s Sibusisiwe Mpofu are eyeing the National Assembly seat that fell vacant following the death of MDC-T MP Thamsanqa Mahlangu.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Matabeleland regional chief elections officer Innocent Ncube presided over the nomination process. After filing his papers, Cde Sibanda said the race had been made easier for him as there were no major contestants.
“This is a walkover. I’m confident of winning the coming election. I don’t see any serious contender,” said Cde Sibanda.
PDZ’s Nyathi said he was a natural leader for Nkulumane as he was a former MDC councillor in the area.
“It’s obvious that I’m going to win. I served as a councillor for the area from 2003 to 2013. I’m a prominent leader. My duty will be to uplift the living standards of people in my area through introducing assorted projects meant to develop the constituency,” said Nyathi.
Mpofu, the only female candidate, said she would take advantage of her gender to uplift women in the constituency.
She said naturally women support each other and she was expecting that they would rally behind her in the coming by-election.
“As women we support each other and I hope they will vote for me. However, this does not mean that I overlook men in the area. We need to work together. We are facing many challenges and struggling to pay school fees. I will work towards ensuring that such challenges can be overcome,” Mpofu said.
Other opposition parties did not field any candidates claiming they wanted electoral reforms to be instituted before taking part in any election.
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