adminHarare Bureau
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has given interested people 14 days to object the nomination of Zanu-PF member Cde Tongesayi Shadreck Chipanga as senator for Manicaland.Cde Chipanga was nominated to fill the vacancy in the Senate that occurred following the death of national hero and senator Cde Kumbirai Manyika Kangai.
In a notice in the Government Gazette published on February 23, Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said people with objections should approach the commission with their reasons for doing so.
“It is hereby notified in terms of section 39(6) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:3) that Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party has nominated Tongesayi Shadreck Chipanga, a registered voter in Ward 8 of Makoni District, residing at Mukonyora Farm, Rusape, Manicaland, to fill the vacancy in the Senate that occurred following the death of Kumbirai Manyika Kangai,” she said.
“Any voter wishing to object to the nomination of Tongesayi Shadreck Chipanga may, within a period of 14 days from the date of publication of this notice, lodge a written objection with the Commission setting forth the reasons for the objection.”
Cde Chipanga was nominated for the senatorial seat after former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono failed to make it because he was not a registered voter in Manicaland province.
Zanu-PF Manicaland province had recommended Gono’s appointment to fill the seat left vacant following the death of Cde Kangai in August last year.
The recommendation was endorsed by the Politburo.
Gono was eventually disqualified because he had not been registered in any ward in Manicaland province as a voter.
An attempt by Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede to transfer Gono from his ward in Harare in December last year to Manicaland was deemed constitutionally unsustainable since he no longer had such powers.
According to Zec, Gono could not be registered or transferred as a voter to Manicaland since the voters roll had been closed on July 10 for the July 31 2013 harmonised elections and any power to register or transfer voters became the preserve of the electoral body after that date.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter