The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has declared it is ready to hold the National Assembly by-elections in Mt Pleasant and Harare East Constituencies on Saturday, 27 April 2024.

In an election notice issued this Monday, 22 April, ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Utloile Silaigwana said 42 300 have been printed for the Mt Pleasant by-election, and 38 850 ballot papers have been printed for the Harare East by-elections. Reads the notice:

Printing and Minting Company of Zimbabwe Pvt (Ltd) located at No. 1 George Drive, Msasa, Harare, was given the mandate to print ballot papers to be used for the National Assembly by-elections.

A total of forty-two thousand, three hundred (42 300) National Assembly ballot papers for Mount Pleasant Constituency and a total of thirty-eight thousand, eight hundred and fifty (38 850) for Harare East Constituency have been printed for the by-elections.

The candidates for the Mt Pleasant constituency are George Mashavave (ZANU PF), Brian Ticky, and Nason Mamuse who are both independents.

Kiven Mutimbanyoka (ZANU PF) and Ropafadzo Cynthia Cheza (Independent) are vying for the Harare East seat.

David Chitimbe of Changu Chimuti Chakapinda Chapinda (CCCC), who intended to run for the Harare East seat, failed to raise the required US$1,000 nomination fees.

The two seats fell vacant following the resignation from Parliament of Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Markham who had both been elected on the CCC ticket in the August 2023 harmonised elections.

Mahere represented the Mount Pleasant Constituency and submitted her resignation letter on January 29, 2024.

Markham, who was a Member of Parliament for the Harare East Constituency, resigned on January 31, 2024.

The two MPs resigned in solidarity with Nelson Chamisa, who had abruptly quit CCC a few days earlier claiming that the party had been infiltrated by ZANU PF.

More: Pindula News