Zimbabwe’s political scene is heating up again as the country prepares for parliamentary by-elections on December 9th.
The by-elections are happening after several MPs from the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party were recently recalled by self-imposed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.
The nomination court will sit in Harare and Bulawayo on Tuesday for parties to submit candidate paperwork. One closely-watched race will be in the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency. CCC MP Febion Kufahakutizwi narrowly defeated ZANU-PF candidate Pedzisai “Scott” Sakupwanya back in August. Now with Kufahakutizwi’s recall, Sakupwanya will have a second chance to claim the seat.
Sakupwanya says he’ll file nomination papers on Tuesday. Despite losing the first time, he’s continued serving residents of Mabvuku-Tafara. “Elections come and go and that does not stop me from supporting and providing for my people whenever I have something to offer,” Sakupwanya said. “I will always remain with my people in good and bad times and I am in the constituency always.”
In total, nine CCC MPs were recently recalled, leaving vacancies across the country. The legal battles to block the recalls failed after the High Court judge Munamato Mutevedzi ruled in favour of Tshabangu, clearing the way for the pending by-elections.
