Nomination Court for by-elections sits next week
Debra Matabvu and
Nyore Madzianike
THE Nomination Court will sit on Tuesday next week to receive nomination papers from prospective candidates for the December 9 by-elections to fill nine vacant National Assembly seats prompted by recalls in the opposition.
Citizens Coalition for Change interim secretary-general Mr Sengezo Tshabangu recently recalled 15 legislators, including six who were elected through proportional representation, as well as nine senators and 17 councillors.
The elections will be held in Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula-Magwegwe, Lupane East, Mabvuku-Tafara, Mpopoma-Mzilikazi and Nketa constituencies.
Each of the National Assembly candidates will pay 000 nomination fees.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) deputy chairperson Ambassador Rodney Kiwa said preparations for the by-elections were on course.
“Yes, preparations for the by-elections have started,” he said.
“Section 39 of the Electoral Act compels the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to begin preparations to fill a parliamentary vacancy once the commission has been notified by the Speaker of Parliament about that vacancy.
“Just like in any ordinary by-election, a roadmap for the by-elections will be established, incorporating key processes such as voters’rolls preparation, sitting of the Nomination Court, training and deployment of voter educators, publishing of polling stations, printing of ballot papers and conduct of the by-elections.”
The elections management body, he said, will not undertake a major voters’ roll inspection.
“However, the commission will display polling station voters’rolls outside polling stations two days before polling to enable voters to ascertain their correct polling stations,” he continued.
“In addition, registered voters can use the Econet and NetOne mobile phone platform *265# to verify their registration details and polling stations.”
Amb Kiwa said, in terms of the Electoral Act, the voters’ roll to be used for the impending by-elections closed two days after proclamation of the election date.
“The conduct of these by-elections was proclaimed on October 23 and, in accordance with the law, the voters’ rolls for those by-elections closed on October 25. This means those who registered as voters before October 25 will vote during the December 9, 2023 by-elections.”
ZEC, he added, was now working on a budget for the elections.
ZEC chief elections officer Mr Utloile Silaigwana said preparations for the Gutu West constituency by-election were on course.
Elections in the constituency were postponed following the death of a duly nominated candidate, Cde Christopher Rwodzi, before the August 23-24 harmonised elections.
The by-election November 11.
“For Gutu West, we are ready for the election,” he said.
“The Nomination Court sat and preparations for the elections are on course.”
He urged all candidates to campaign peacefully and desist from using hate speech.