Vacant Senate seats gazetted

GOVERNMENT has gazetted the two vacant seats in the Senate that were created by the resignation of Zanu-PF’s Cde Obert Mpofu and the death of national heroine Cde Thokozile Mathuthu.

Both senators were from Matabeleland North Province.

The notice of the vacancies was published in a Government Gazette published last week by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission acting chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana.

“It is hereby notified that the commission has received notices of vacancies that have occurred among the party-list members of the Senate,” the notice reads.

“The public is hereby notified, in terms of Section 39 (40) (a) of the Electoral Act, that there exists vacancies in the Senate following the death of Senator Thokozile Angela Mathuthu and the resignation of Senator Obert Moses Mpofu, who were both elected members of the Senate for Matabeleland North Province by virtue of Section 124 (I) (b) of the commission.”

Cde Mpofu resigned as Matabeleland North Senator last month to pave way for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema to take up his Cabinet post.

The other four non-constituency MPs who were appointed Cabinet Ministers were Ms Kirsty Coventry (Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation), Professor Mthuli Ncube (Finance and Economic Development), Dr Obadiah Moyo (Health and Child Care), Professor Amon Murwira (Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development) and Cde July Moyo (Local Government, Public Works and National Housing).

Cde Mathuthu died in August after a long battle with cancer and was buried at the National Heroes Acre.