News / National
Mnangagwa frees up political space: Zesn
02 Aug 2019 at 08:00hrs | Views
A LOCAL independent election watchdog has attributed an increase in the number of political parties eyeing Lupane East constituency, which has been widely regarded as a Zanu-PF stronghold, to an improvement in civic and political rights since the pre-2018 election period.
A by-election will be held in Lupane East tomorrow to fill a vacancy that arose following the death of Zanu-PF legislator Sithembile Gumbo on April 5.
Nine political parties are eyeing the seat, with MDC Alliance's 2018 election losing candidate Dalumuzi Khumalo being one of them.
In a commentary, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn), said it was refreshing to note an increase in the number of political parties eyeing Lupane East constituency, an improvement from only three — Zanu-PF, MDC and MDC-T — that contested for the seat in 2008.
"The three political parties contested again in 2013 and were joined by Zapu and an independent candidate (Mhlanga Kenneth). In 2018, a record 12 parties contested for the National Assembly seat.
"Perhaps, the rise in the number of electoral contestants can be attributed to the relative improvement in the enjoyment of civic and political rights, especially the freedoms of movement, assembly, and association for political candidates and their supporters which prevailed in the pre-election period of 2018," Zesn said.
Zanu-PF, MDC Alliance, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), Labourers Economists African Democrats [LEADS] led by Linda Masarira, MDC-T, National Patriotic Front, NCA, Zapu and National Action Party are contesting the seat.
The constituency has been widely regarded as a Zanu-PF stronghold since 2013.
Zanu-PF grabbed the seat from the MDC then led by Welshman Ncube that had won it in 2008. The ruling party retained the seat in the 2018 harmonised elections.
". . . The margin with which Zanu-PF won the Lupane East election widened between these two elections, however, the combined votes received by the opposition political parties that contested the same elections remain greater than what Zanu-PF received," Zesn said.
"It is, therefore, apparent that coalition building remains one of the potentially viable options that may help enhance competition in elections and improve prospects for all electoral contestants."
A by-election will be held in Lupane East tomorrow to fill a vacancy that arose following the death of Zanu-PF legislator Sithembile Gumbo on April 5.
Nine political parties are eyeing the seat, with MDC Alliance's 2018 election losing candidate Dalumuzi Khumalo being one of them.
In a commentary, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn), said it was refreshing to note an increase in the number of political parties eyeing Lupane East constituency, an improvement from only three — Zanu-PF, MDC and MDC-T — that contested for the seat in 2008.
"The three political parties contested again in 2013 and were joined by Zapu and an independent candidate (Mhlanga Kenneth). In 2018, a record 12 parties contested for the National Assembly seat.
"Perhaps, the rise in the number of electoral contestants can be attributed to the relative improvement in the enjoyment of civic and political rights, especially the freedoms of movement, assembly, and association for political candidates and their supporters which prevailed in the pre-election period of 2018," Zesn said.
Zanu-PF, MDC Alliance, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), Labourers Economists African Democrats [LEADS] led by Linda Masarira, MDC-T, National Patriotic Front, NCA, Zapu and National Action Party are contesting the seat.
The constituency has been widely regarded as a Zanu-PF stronghold since 2013.
Zanu-PF grabbed the seat from the MDC then led by Welshman Ncube that had won it in 2008. The ruling party retained the seat in the 2018 harmonised elections.
". . . The margin with which Zanu-PF won the Lupane East election widened between these two elections, however, the combined votes received by the opposition political parties that contested the same elections remain greater than what Zanu-PF received," Zesn said.
"It is, therefore, apparent that coalition building remains one of the potentially viable options that may help enhance competition in elections and improve prospects for all electoral contestants."
Source - newsday
