Zanu-PF to claim Nkulumane unopposed

ZANU-PF is set to claim a sixth parliamentary seat in Bulawayo, as four opposition parties have ruled out participating in the Nkulumane by-election next month.

MDC, MDC-T, Zapu and People's Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said they were boycotting the polls on the basis the playing field was not even.

The Nkulumane seat fell vacant following the death of Thamsanqa Mahlangu in October this year and the nomination court is set to sit on Friday, while the by-election will be on December 19.

MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said they were still sticking to their stance of boycotting elections in the absence of reforms.

Asked whether the party would sanction members who chose to contest as independent candidates, he said: "All members of the MDC-T are bound by the national council resolution.

"Any member who decides to contest the by-election as an independent candidate will be deemed to have automatically dismissed himself/herself from the party."

MDC spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said Zanu-PF was bound to rig the elections as the playing field was uneven.

PDP Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Fortune Mlalazi said the party was distancing itself "from participating in the sham by-election".

Zapu spokesperson Iphuthile Maphosa said participating would be "technically tricky", as they were busy with key congress preparations.

The opposition has already boycotted a number of elections, allowing Zanu-PF to regain in constituencies it last won in the 1995 polls.