Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Writer
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has completed the printing of 53 550 National Assembly and 8 450 Local Authority ballot papers for the upcoming by-elections on June 14.
Voters in Insiza North and Gutu East constituencies will cast ballots for National Assembly representatives, while Binga and Chipinge districts will hold Local Authority polls.
Providing an update on preparations, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chief Elections Officer, Mr Simbarashe Tongayi, confirmed that the printed ballot papers will cater for all registered voters in the affected areas, with an additional contingency included.
“A total of 53 550 National Assembly ballot papers have been printed to cater for 48 970 registered voters in the two constituencies. For the Local Authority by-elections, 8 450 ballot papers have been printed,” he said.
Mr Tongayi stated that the Printing and Minting Company of Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd, based in Msasa, Harare, was contracted to print the ballot papers.
“It is hereby notified, in terms of Section 52A (2) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), that for the purposes of the by-elections to be held on June 14, 2025, the Printing and Minting Company of Zimbabwe Pvt (Ltd) was given the mandate to print ballot papers for use in the National Assembly and Local Authority by-elections. A contingency of 9,35 percent for the National Assembly and 8,04 percent for the Local Authority has been added to the ballots. The ballot papers were printed in books of 50 each,” he said
The Insiza North National Assembly seat in Matabeleland South became vacant following the death of Farai Taruvinga of Zanu-PF, who succumbed to cancer in March.
Four candidates have filed their nomination papers at the Gwanda Provincial Magistrates’ Courts and will contest the by-election. These are Mr Delani Moyo of Zanu-PF, Mr Thabani Mlotshwa of Zapu, independent candidate Mr Lesley Dube and Mr Mbongeni Moyo of the Zimbabwe National Revival Party.
In Masvingo Province, three candidates will contest the Gutu East seat, which became vacant following the expulsion of Mr Benjamin Ganyiwa from Zanu-PF. Mr Ganyiwa had been elected during the 2023 harmonised elections, but his expulsion led to the nullification of the seat.
Candidates vying for the Gutu East seat, as confirmed by the Masvingo Magistrates’ Court nomination proceedings, are Zvarevashe Masvingise of Zanu-PF, Mr Gift Gonese (independent), and Mr Zivanai Nzvenga of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA).
Zanu-PF remains politically dominant in Masvingo, having secured 24 out of 26 seats in the 2023 harmonised elections.
