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Victoria Falls deputy mayor loses seat after Zanu-PF defection
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Victoria Falls Deputy Mayor and Ward 3 councillor Lungile Nyoni has lost his council seat after defecting from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to the ruling Zanu-PF.
Nyoni, who was elected to represent Ward 3 under the CCC banner, ceased to hold office by operation of law following his resignation from the opposition party and subsequent affiliation with Zanu-PF.
The vacancy was confirmed by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe in a letter dated July 31, 2026, addressed to the Victoria Falls City Council Town Clerk.
Garwe directed the local authority to immediately notify the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the vacancy.
"I hereby advise that I am in receipt of a notice of vacancy in the office of Councillor for Ward Three, Victoria Falls City Council, previously held by Mr Lungile Nyoni," Garwe wrote.
"Mr Nyoni, who was elected under the banner of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has since resigned from the party and affiliated with the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)."
He said the councillor's office had become vacant in terms of Section 278(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section 129(1)(k).
"In terms of Section 278(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section 129(1)(k), the office of Councillor for Ward 3 has become vacant by operation of law," Garwe said.
Nyoni resigned from the CCC in June, saying he wanted to contribute more effectively to national development and the development of Victoria Falls.
At the time, he said his decision followed careful consideration of his responsibilities as deputy mayor and his aspirations for the people he represented.
"It follows a period of careful reflection on my responsibilities as deputy mayor of Victoria Falls City Council, my aspirations for the people I serve, and desire to contribute meaningfully towards the developmental agenda of our nation," Nyoni said.
He also expressed regret over his previous political choices and announced his decision to align himself with Zanu-PF.
"I acknowledge that my political journey led me away from the Party that has remained the custodian of Zimbabwe's independence, sovereignty, and development. Looking back, I regret the choices that distanced me from a movement that has consistently demonstrated resilience and commitment to the welfare of the people," he said.
Zanu-PF subsequently welcomed Nyoni's defection, with the party's Matabeleland North provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo describing the move as a boost for Victoria Falls.
ZEC has since announced that a by-election will be held on October 3, 2026, to fill the Ward 3 vacancy.
In a public notice, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Simbarashe Tongayi said the nomination court would sit on September 2 at the Victoria Falls Town Clerk's offices.
"The Commission has received written notifications that the seat of councillor for Ward 3 of Victoria Falls Municipality has become vacant following a recall of the incumbent councillor," Tongayi said.
The nomination court will sit at the Town Clerk's offices along Livingstone Way, Victoria Falls, to receive nominations from candidates seeking election to the ward.
ZEC said October 3 would be polling day should a contest arise.
"Saturday, the 3rd day of October 2026 has been fixed as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of Section 125(4)(b) of the Electoral Act," the notice reads.
Nyoni is the latest Victoria Falls councillor to lose his seat amid a series of recalls involving opposition councillors who have either defected or been deemed to have ceased to belong to the party under which they were elected.
Three other CCC councillors — Mthunzi Mpofu of Ward 9, Nkanyiso Sibindi of Ward 10 and Daniel Moyo of Ward 11 — were previously recalled, resulting in by-elections held on August 1.
Zanu-PF won all three contested municipal wards in those elections, completing a clean sweep and further strengthening its position within the Victoria Falls local authority.
Nyoni, who was elected to represent Ward 3 under the CCC banner, ceased to hold office by operation of law following his resignation from the opposition party and subsequent affiliation with Zanu-PF.
The vacancy was confirmed by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe in a letter dated July 31, 2026, addressed to the Victoria Falls City Council Town Clerk.
Garwe directed the local authority to immediately notify the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the vacancy.
"I hereby advise that I am in receipt of a notice of vacancy in the office of Councillor for Ward Three, Victoria Falls City Council, previously held by Mr Lungile Nyoni," Garwe wrote.
"Mr Nyoni, who was elected under the banner of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has since resigned from the party and affiliated with the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF)."
He said the councillor's office had become vacant in terms of Section 278(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section 129(1)(k).
"In terms of Section 278(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with Section 129(1)(k), the office of Councillor for Ward 3 has become vacant by operation of law," Garwe said.
Nyoni resigned from the CCC in June, saying he wanted to contribute more effectively to national development and the development of Victoria Falls.
At the time, he said his decision followed careful consideration of his responsibilities as deputy mayor and his aspirations for the people he represented.
"It follows a period of careful reflection on my responsibilities as deputy mayor of Victoria Falls City Council, my aspirations for the people I serve, and desire to contribute meaningfully towards the developmental agenda of our nation," Nyoni said.
He also expressed regret over his previous political choices and announced his decision to align himself with Zanu-PF.
"I acknowledge that my political journey led me away from the Party that has remained the custodian of Zimbabwe's independence, sovereignty, and development. Looking back, I regret the choices that distanced me from a movement that has consistently demonstrated resilience and commitment to the welfare of the people," he said.
Zanu-PF subsequently welcomed Nyoni's defection, with the party's Matabeleland North provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo describing the move as a boost for Victoria Falls.
ZEC has since announced that a by-election will be held on October 3, 2026, to fill the Ward 3 vacancy.
In a public notice, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Simbarashe Tongayi said the nomination court would sit on September 2 at the Victoria Falls Town Clerk's offices.
"The Commission has received written notifications that the seat of councillor for Ward 3 of Victoria Falls Municipality has become vacant following a recall of the incumbent councillor," Tongayi said.
The nomination court will sit at the Town Clerk's offices along Livingstone Way, Victoria Falls, to receive nominations from candidates seeking election to the ward.
ZEC said October 3 would be polling day should a contest arise.
"Saturday, the 3rd day of October 2026 has been fixed as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of Section 125(4)(b) of the Electoral Act," the notice reads.
Nyoni is the latest Victoria Falls councillor to lose his seat amid a series of recalls involving opposition councillors who have either defected or been deemed to have ceased to belong to the party under which they were elected.
Three other CCC councillors — Mthunzi Mpofu of Ward 9, Nkanyiso Sibindi of Ward 10 and Daniel Moyo of Ward 11 — were previously recalled, resulting in by-elections held on August 1.
Zanu-PF won all three contested municipal wards in those elections, completing a clean sweep and further strengthening its position within the Victoria Falls local authority.
Source - Sunday News
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