Zanu PF eyes Vic Falls Ward 9

Politics
ZANU PF has said it is ready for the Victoria Falls Town Council Ward 9 by-election set for Saturday as it seeks to increase the number of its councillors

ZANU PF has said it is ready for the Victoria Falls Town Council Ward 9 by-election set for Saturday as it seeks to increase the number of its councillors in the local authority.

Chief Reporter

The council is under a Zanu PF mayor despite having won only three seats compared to the rival MDC-T seven seats in the July 31 elections.

Three MDC-T councillors voted for a Zanu PF councillor in elections for the mayor handing over control of the resort town’s council to the ruling party.

Sifiso Mpofu of Zanu PF was elected mayor of Victoria Falls after garnering six votes ahead of Margaret Valley (MDC-T) who had four.

The MDC-T has since suspended three councillors it accuses of taking bribes to vote for Mpofu.

Zanu PF Matabeleland North chairperson Richard Moyo yesterday said campaigning was in full swing.

“We are busy making final touches, but we are confident of winning the seat,” he said.

The Welshman Ncube-led MDC and Zapu have also fielded candidates for the by-election.

Sambulo Mpofu (Zanu PF), Somveli Dhlamini (MDC-T), Atient Ncube (MDC) and White Julius Willard Phiri of Zapu will battle it out for the ward.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has indicated that 1 500 ballot papers will be printed.

The elections come in the wake of an MDC-T trouncing in three run-off by-elections in Kusile Rural District Council in Lupane, Kadoma Municipality and Ward 30 in Mutasa Rural District Council after candidates had received equal number of votes in the July 31 elections.