6 candidates to slug it out in Zanu PF primaries i...

6 candidates to slug it out in Zanu PF primaries in Mt Pleasant, Harare East

**Zanu PF national political commissar, Mike Bimha**

Zim Now Writer

Six candidates will battle it out for the right to represent the party in by-elections set for April 27, 2024.

Lynnette Mahlaba and Kelvin Mutimbanyoka will battle it out in Harare East constituency in Zanu PF primaries due to be held on Saturday.

In Mt Pleasant constituency, George Mashavave, Jaison Pasadi, Chris Chuchu and Biddle Gwasira will compete were cleared to fight it out for the right to represent Zanu PFin the constituency.

The two constituencies fell vacant after former legislators Fadzai Mahere (Mt Pleasant) and Rusty Markham (Harare East) resigned from Parliament last month in solidarity with former Citizens Coalition for Change leader, Nelson Chamisa, who dumped the opposition outfit at the end of January citing alleged infiltration.

Zanu PF national political commissar, Mike Bimha said the six contesting candidates had been cleared by the Zanu PF presidium.

“You will recall that we had Members of Parliament who resigned (from CCC), in particular the Members of Parliament for Harare East and Mt Pleasant,” he said.

“They resigned in solidarity with Nelson Chamisa and, therefore, these constituencies were then declared vacant and the proclamation was issued that there will be elections on the 27th of April this year to fill these vacancies,” said Bimha.

In most of the by-elections held after the August 2023 elections, Zanu PF has won most of the seats, and the party now enjoys more than two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.