Jailed Kereke seat declared vacant

PRESIDENT Mugabe has declared the Bikita West National Assembly seat vacant with a by-election set to take place in January.

The seat fell vacant after former legislator Dr Munyaradzi Kereke (Zanu-PF) was jailed for 10 years following a rape conviction.

In a Government Gazette published on Friday, President Mugabe set 18 November, 2016 as the day for Nomination Court to sit.

According to Section 129(1)(i) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, a Parliamentary seat becomes vacant on the conviction and sentencing of a legislator to more than six months in prison.

Read part of the Gazette: “And whereas it is provided by section 39(2) of the Electoral Act that after the President has been notified in terms of the said section of vacancies in the membership of parliament, shall issue a proclamation ordering a new election to fill the vacancies in the same manner as is provided for in section 38 of the said Act in regard to a general election;

“Now, therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the president as afore said, I do, by this proclamation; order new elections for the constituency of Bikita West and fix the 25th of November, 2016 as the date on which the nomination court shall sit, commencing at 10 o’clock in the morning, at the Magistrates Court, corner Robert Mugabe Street and Jason Moyo Avenue, Masvingo, for the purpose of receiving nominations of candidates for election as member of the National Assembly constituency for Bikita West.

“And fix the 21st of January, 2017, as the day on which a poll shall be taken, if a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 46(17)(c) of the Electoral Act.”