Zimbabwe by-elections: No absence of takers despite boycott by major opposition parties

Nine candidates will be contesting the two by-elections in Chirumanzu-Zibagwe and Mount Darwin West in March though the major opposition political parties have boycotted the polls.

Five candidates- Auxillia Mnangagwa of ZANU-PF, Gadzamoyo Dhewa of the Good People’s Movement, Munashe Mutodza of the National Constitutional Assembly, Abigail Musambasi of Transform Zimbabwe and Willbroad Kanoti, an independent candidate- are contesting the Chirumanzu-Zibabwe seat left vacant by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Four candidates- Barnwell Seremwe of ZANU-PF,  Kenard Fungai  of Transform Zimbabwe, Cyril Muradzi of the Freedom Front of Zimbabwe and NCA’s Rueben Mafigu- are contesting the Mount Darwin West seat  once held by former Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

The main opposition parties such as the three factions of the Movement for Democratic Change factions, the Zimbabwe African People’s Union and Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn have boycotted the polls but little known opposition parties have decided to come in.

NCA leader Lovemore Madhuku, whose party is contesting both by-elections, recently criticised opposition parties for focusing too much on ZANU-PF squabbles instead of intensifying their recruitment drive ahead of the 2018 elections.

“The opposition has no reason to be engrossed in other political parties’ politics but should maintain its contact with the people,” he said.

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