Toss to pick mayor

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KWEKWE faces an interesting prospect as the election of the city’s mayor may well be decided by the toss of a coin, probably a first in Zimbabwe.

KWEKWE faces an interesting prospect as the election of the city’s mayor may well be decided by the toss of a coin, probably a first in Zimbabwe.

Blessed Mhlanga

Zanu PF and MDC-T each won an equal number of seats – seven – in Kwekwe’s council and if the two parties fail to reach an agreement — quite a likely scenario — then they will have a unique way of deciding who will be the city’s mayor for the next five years.

According to the Urban Councils Act Section 103 (5), in the event that there is a stalemate in the election of the mayor, the winner will be declared through the casting of lots during the meeting.

“If, at any meeting at which a mayor, chairperson, deputy mayor or deputy chairperson is to be elected, more than one candidate is nominated for that office, the election shall be by secret ballot and, if there is an equality of votes between two or more candidates and the addition of one vote would entitle any of the candidates to be declared elected to the office, there shall be a second election by secret ballot and, if in that second election there is again an equality of votes such as is referred to above, the candidate to whom the additional vote shall be deemed to have been given shall be determined by the drawing of lots at that meeting,” part of the Act reads.

But this has not stopped keen Zanu PF and MDC-T members from jostling for Kwekwe’s coveted top posts. Sources said Zanu PF had since put forward former councillor and businessman Matenda Madzoke as its choice.

On the other hand, MDC-T will hold a caucus on Friday to decide among three front runners – outgoing Health minister Henery Madzorera, businessman Charles Mkewa and journalist-cum-politician, Owen Matava.

Madzorera declined to commit himself to the mayoral race, saying his interests were more on the election challenge, which is playing out in the Constitutional Court.

“The party might have its own plans regarding my candidature as mayor of Kwekwe, but at the moment we are looking at the challenge, which is before the courts.

“We are concerned with the rigging that took place,” he said. Insiders said the MDC-T was pushing to have Madzorera bounce back into public office as Kwekwe mayor, although there are reports that most councillors were comfortable working with Mkewa, rather than the former Health minister.

“The national leadership have suggested that we put Madzorera for the post. He has a good head on his shoulders and could be the ideal man to lead the local authority, especially given the composition of council,” an insider said.

MDC-T councillors will meet this Friday to decide on a candidate.