Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
THE ruling party Zanu PF on Sunday launched its Chinhoyi Ward 14 by-election campaign.
The by-election is slated for August 2. The ruling party’s candidate in the by-election is Cde Biswork Solomon.
The seat fell vacant after the conviction of Citizens for Coalition Change CCC) Councillor for the ward and deputy mayor Chipo Mlotshwa on fraud charges.
Mlotshwa was sentenced to three years imprisonment with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour.
However, she escaped a custodial sentence after a Chinhoyi magistrate ordered her to perform 840 hours of community service at Alaska School.
She then appealed against the judgment and the appeal was turned down last Friday.
This means Mlotshwa will serve her sentence paving the way for the by-election as announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Addressing the party leadership and voters, Zanu PF provincial chairman, Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said the party was ready to reclaim the ward which had gone to the opposition.
“This is the chance you have been given to boot out the opposition and vote Zanu PF. The Zanu PF-led Government, through the able leadership of President Mnangagwa, is concerned about the lives of every citizen,” she said.
Makonde legislator Cde Simbarashe Ziyambi and Zanu PF Makonde District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairman, Cde Elisha Bokoro, said the party was ready to reclaim the council seat and will be conducting door-to-door campaigns to find out challenges being faced by residents in the ward.
Councillors For ED (C4ED) national chairman, Cde Rogers Nhari, who also attended the launch, called on people in Ward 14 to vote for Cde Solomon as this would help cascade development to the grassroots.
Cde Solomon said he was confident of winning and assured Ward 14 of transparency and hard work.
He is battling it out with Hope Zimbiri, an independent candidate.
