Nomination court sits for vacant seats

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) says the nomination court for the vacant Mount Pleasant and Harare East constituencies will sit next week.

The two constituencies became vacant after former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators for Mt Pleasant and Harare East, Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Markham respectively, stepped down.

They stepped down in solidarity with former CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa, who had dumped the party he had formed two years ago saying it had been infiltrated by Zanu PF and its proxies.

In a statement yesterday, Zec said the nomination court will sit on Tuesday next week.

“On Tuesday 26th of March 2024 the nomination court for Harare East and Mount Pleasant National Assembly Constituencies will be receiving nomination papers. The nomination courts open from 10:00 hours to 16:00 hours,” Zec said.

“Nomination papers can be submitted at any time soon after publication of the proclamation at the respective Harare Metropolitan Province Zec office during normal office hours.

“On nomination day, that is, 26th of March 2024 nomination papers should be submitted at the respective nomination court sitting at the Magistrates Court, Rotten Row, Harare commencing at 10:00hours to 16:00hours.

“The Commission urges candidates and political parties to take advantage of the window to submit nomination papers early so as to avoid inconveniences that result from non-reflection of funds on time and inadequate nominators, among others.”

Several other by-elections were triggered soon after last year’s August 22-24 polls by the recall of CCC legislators, senators and councillors by self-imposed party secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu after he grabbed the party from Chamisa.