By-election for Mutoko North Constituency

A BY-ELECTION will be held in Mutoko North Constituency following the elevation of incumbent legislator, Cde Marble Chinomona, to President of Senate on Tuesday.

Cde Chinomona won the right to represent Mutoko North in the just-ended harmonised elections before being elected Senate President.

She was elevated to be Senate President after she beat MDC-Alliance candidate Mr Morgen Komichi.

Her elevation is expected to pave way for a by-election in terms of the Constitution. In an interview yesterday, Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda said the elevation of Cde Chinomona would now result in a by-election.

“The Constitution is clear in respect of such scenario,” he said.

“It is self-explanatory that there would be a by-election. Necessary processes will soon be made.”

Section 129 (1) (d) of the Constitution read as follows: “The seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant on the Member becoming President of the Senate or Speaker or a Member of the other House.”

Parliament is expected to officially notify President Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the existence of a vacancy in the National Assembly to trigger necessary logistical arrangements for the by-election. Cde Chinomona got 52 votes, while Mr Komichi garnered 22 votes, to land the post of Senate President.

She will be deputised by Manicaland Senator Cde Mike Nyambuya, who beat MDC-Alliance’s Ms Lillian Timveous by 51 votes to 25. Advocate Jacob Mudenda was retained as Speaker of the National Assembly and will be deputised by Cde Tsitsi Gezi. ZANU-PF is expected to retain the constituency given its showing in the just-ended harmonised elections in which it garnered a comfortable twothirds majority in the National Assembly.