By Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially set December 9 as the day for holding by-elections to address the empty seats in the National Assembly, dealing a blow to the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) who were hoping for a reversal of the recalls.
The CCC faced a setback when self proclaimed interim secretary general (SG), Sengenzo Tshabangu, recalled 15 of its Members of Parliament.
As per a government gazette released on Friday, the nomination court is scheduled to convene on November 7 to receive candidate submissions.
“Now therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President as aforesaid, I do, by this proclamation, order new elections for the constituencies of Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula Magwegwe, Lupane East, Mabvuku Tafara, Mpopoma Mzilikazi and Nketa; and
“Fix Tuesday the 7th day of November, 2023, as the date on which the nomination court shall sit, commencing at 10 o’clock in the morning
“Fix Saturday the 9th of December, 2023, as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 46(17)(c) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13].
“Given under my hand and the Public Seal of Zimbabwe at Harare, this seventeenth day of October, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-three,” read the gazette.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has issued a notice regarding the removal of 17 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors in response to a letter from Tshabangu.
Minister Winston Chitando, in a letter to Bulawayo’s town clerk Christopher Dube, informed him that 12 Bulawayo councillors were no longer affiliated with the CCC, leading to their recall.
