News / National
Why Mthuli Ncube is not vying for Cowdray Park seat
06 Nov 2023 at 04:49hrs | Views
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube will not be contesting in the upcoming by-elections for Cowdray Park constituency, as he is already serving as a non-constituency Member of Parliament.
He was appointed by President Mnangagwa as one of the seven non-constituency MPs and the country's Treasury boss. Prof Ncube was a Zanu-PF candidate for Cowdray Park in the 2023 harmonised elections, where he initiated several developmental projects and ran a pro-development campaign. However, he lost to Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate Mr Pashor Sibanda, who was later recalled from Parliament along with 14 other CCC legislators.
Zanu-PF held primary elections on Saturday to replace the recalled members, but Prof Ncube's name was not among the candidates for Cowdray Park. Zanu-PF politburo member Elifasi Mashaba explained that Prof Ncube did not stand because he would have had to resign as a Minister and an MP if he wanted to contest in the by-elections.
"You should also bear in mind that Prof Ncube was already appointed as a Minister and what that means is that if he was to contest in the by-elections, he would have needed to step down as a Minister and stand down as an MP. That was going to create a lot of administration issues hence he did not stand," said Mashaba. Subject to approval by the party's leadership, Arthur Mujeyi will contest on the Zanu-PF ticket for Cowdray Park seat in the by-elections to be held on December 9.
He was appointed by President Mnangagwa as one of the seven non-constituency MPs and the country's Treasury boss. Prof Ncube was a Zanu-PF candidate for Cowdray Park in the 2023 harmonised elections, where he initiated several developmental projects and ran a pro-development campaign. However, he lost to Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate Mr Pashor Sibanda, who was later recalled from Parliament along with 14 other CCC legislators.
"You should also bear in mind that Prof Ncube was already appointed as a Minister and what that means is that if he was to contest in the by-elections, he would have needed to step down as a Minister and stand down as an MP. That was going to create a lot of administration issues hence he did not stand," said Mashaba. Subject to approval by the party's leadership, Arthur Mujeyi will contest on the Zanu-PF ticket for Cowdray Park seat in the by-elections to be held on December 9.
Source - The Chronicle
