Gwanda South, Mpopoma polls to be postponed

Gwanda South, Mpopoma polls to be postponed

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By Lebo Nkatazo

ELECTIONS will be postponed in at least two constituencies on March 29 following the death of opposition candidates.

Mpopoma MP Milton Milford Gwetu of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) faction led by Arthur Mutambara died last Friday at the age of 78.

His death came a few days after the death of another MDC candidate, Glory Makwati, who was standing in Gwanda South.

Paul Themba Nyathi, the MDC’s director of elections said: "Gwetu was one of the Members of Parliament who did a lot of work in his constituency. He took responsibility, and held report back meetings with his constituency very, very regularly. He was simple, humble and a grassroots person.”

Zimbabwe Election Commission Deputy Chief Elections Officer responsible for Operations Utoile Silaigwana said in the event of the death of a candidate and official notification, the Nomination Court will resit in the affected constituency.

"According to section 50 of the Electoral Act, the Chief Elections Officer will need to be satisfied that the duly nominated candidate has indeed died and in such circumstances there will be a nomination for that seat. The Nomination Court will sit afresh," said Silaigwana.

He said the other candidates would have to write to the Chief Elections Officer notifying him of their intention to stand, "which, in that case, they will not have to resubmit their nomination papers".

"But when the Nomination Court sits, other people are free to submit their nomination papers," he said.
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