Story by Patience Nyagato
THE stage is set for Chegutu and Norton local authority by-elections set for this Saturday, with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) encouraging registered voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
The by-elections seek to fill vacancies created in Ward 3 of Chegutu Rural District Council after the death of the incumbent councillor on January 2, and Ward three of Norton Town Council which fell vacant in December after the sitting Councillor also died.
Tsomondo Wilson Charamba of ZANU PF will battle it out with two independent candidates, Paradzai Preston Tanatswa and Munyeveri Walter for the Norton Town Council Ward 3 post.
Independent candidates Sibanda Tawanda and Murombedzi Stabile will contest against Makofi Mahwinhei of ZANU PF in Chegutu Rural District Council.
In a media briefing in Harare this Friday, ZEC Deputy Chairperson, Ambassador Rodney Kiwa said ballot papers for the wards are already in place, with five polling stations established for each ward.
“All material and human resources are in place. Ward elections officers, deputy ward elections officers, presiding officers and polling officers for all electoral centres have been recruited and trained,” Ambassador Kiwa said.
“ZiG$12 million has been budgeted for the two by-elections. The Printing and Minting Company of Zimbabwe Pvt (Ltd) was given the mandate to print ballot papers to be used for the local authority by-elections.
“A total of 2 850 ballot papers were printed for Ward 3 of Chegutu Rural District Council while 2 550 ballot papers were printed for Ward 3 of Norton Town Council by-elections. The figures include a contingency of 6.74% for Ward 3 of Chegutu Rural District Council and 7.45% for Ward 3 of Norton Town Council. This was done in terms of section 52A (2) of the Electoral Act.”
The Nomination Court for the contesting candidates sat on the 6th of February, with three candidates being successfully nominated for each ward.
