Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor

CANDIDATES vying for the Harare East and Mt Pleasant national assembly seats are confident of victory in by-elections set for Saturday after pledging to improve service delivery and fighting the menace of drug and substance abuse.

Two candidates are vying for the Harare East National Assembly seat while Mt Pleasant has three candidates.

In Harare East, ZANU PF’s Cde Kiven Mutimbanyoka will battle it out against independent candidate Cynthia Ropafadzo Cheza.

In Mt Pleasant constituency, Cde George Mashavave is representing ZANU PF, and he will battle it out with independent candidates Ticky Brian and Nason Mamuse.

The two seats fell vacant after opposition legislators Rusty Markham and Fadzayi Mahere resigned from the National Assembly owing to internal party strife.