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Nduduzo Tshuma Political Editor
ZANU-PF was yesterday optimistic of achieving a clean sweep in today’s by-elections in 16 constituencies.
The party’s secretary for information and publicity, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, called on party members to go and vote in their numbers to ensure an emphatic victory in by-elections that present a chance for the ruling party to extend its dominance in the country’s politics.
“It’s a very important day for us as a ruling party which fought for the majority’s right to vote through the protracted liberation struggle. Now that we’ve that democracy, it’s important that the people go out and vote for candidates of their choice,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.
“We believe that our people have seen that it’s only Zanu-PF that can carry the aspirations of the people. We’re aware of some who have said they’ll boycott the polls but that doesn’t concern us at all because they’re planning their own funeral that we won’t be part of as we’ll be celebrating our victory.”
Cde Khaya Moyo called for peaceful conduct during the election period, saying party members should even ignore negative elements that go out of their way to provoke them.
In Bulawayo, Zanu-PF will be contesting in five constituencies namely Mpopoma, Luveve, Lobengula, Pumula and Makokoba.
The party, which seeks to regain seats that have been in the hands of the opposition for the past 15 years, will be represented by Cdes Joseph Tshuma in Mpopoma, Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo in Luveve, Maidei Mpala in Lobengula, Godfrey Malaba in Pumula and Tshinga Dube in Makokoba.
In Matabeleland North, Professor Jonathan Moyo is the Zanu-PF candidate for the Tsholotsho North constituency.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has printed 475,800 ballot papers for the polls in the 16 constituencies.
According to the schedule, in Bulawayo Province, Lobengula constituency has been allocated 27,000 ballots, Luveve 29,800, Makokoba 30,000, Pelandaba -Mpopoma and Pumula 28,100.
In Harare, Dzivarasekwa has 26,200, Harare East 37,900, Highfield West 24,500, Kuwadzana 26,100, Kambuzuma 25,500 and Glenview South 27,300.
In Manicaland, Headlands was allocated 33,300 and Dangamvura-Chikanga 43,100. In Mashonaland West, Hurungwe West was given 28,000 while Tsholotsho North in Matabeleland North has 31,900 ballots.
In Midlands, Kwekwe constituency has 27, 700.
Fourteen seats fell vacant after the MDC-T expelled 21 legislators that had left the party to form the MDC Renewal Team. Six of them were won through proportional representation so are not directly elected. Two constituencies, Headlands and Hurungwe West fell vacant after Zanu-PF fired the incumbents, Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa for plotting against the party.
Zec Bulawayo provincial elections officer Innocent Ncube yesterday said all was set for today’s elections with 161 polling stations where votes will be cast in the five contested constituencies.
Ncube said of the 161 polling centres, 17 were tents and they had already deployed mobile toilets for use by voters and officials.
“As far as we’re concerned, we’ve done all the preparations. We’ve done all the ground work and we expect proceedings to go smoothly,” said Ncube.
He said results were expected to be announced by midday tomorrow.
Online Reporter