THE race for Bulawayo East constituency, which has eight candidates vying for the House of Assembly seat, has been billed as one of the most epic battles in the city.
Nqobile Bhebhe Chief Reporter
The cast consists of incumbent Thabitha Khumalo of MDC-T, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart of MDC, Kelvin Muzidziwa (Zanu-PF) and Tinashe Kambarami, a former youth district chairperson in MDC-T who chose to run as an independent.
Others are Kelvin Kasosera (Zimbabwe Patriotic Movement), Norman Kaviza (MKD), Stanley Moyo an independent and Tapson Tivarere of United Movement for Democracy.
Roger Muhlwa, however, has since withdrawn his candidature after Zapu forged an election pact with MDC, throwing his weight behind Coltart.
Politics, being a game of numbers and popularity, observers said the race had virtually been narrowed down to just two – Khumalo and Coltart. Khumalo, whose political career is grounded on trade unionism, has been Bulawayo East legislator since 2000.
During her tenure, she has campaigned for HIV and Aids prevention and access to treatment, which was often viewed as advancing the legalisation of prostitution.
In her party, she was also never far from controversy.
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In 2011, at the MDC-T elective congress, she challenged party deputy president Thokozani Khupe for the post and lost. From there, things went helter-skelter for her, as she was soon relieved of her position as deputy spokesperson of the party. On the other hand, her main rival, Coltart is the incumbent Kumalo senator.
Coltart said while he would have preferred to remain in the Senate, he “understood the logic of the decision and hence agreed to stand in the House of Assembly”.
His profile as Education minister might win him the election.
However, both candidates in recent interviews admitted that the battle would be tough.
Bulawayo-based political commentator Godwill Phiri said although both candidates have high profiles, Coltart had a slight edge. “No doubt the race would be tight,” he said. “Both candidates have strong CVs. But Coltart has an edge over Khumalo.”
Coltart is rated as having been the best performing minister in the tenure of the inclusive government. He helped revive a crucial sector that had collapsed.
“That on its own is a huge factor and the electorate relate to the education issues as they are a basic human right.” He added that the MDC-Zapu alliance which saw Muhlwa stepping down, could benefit Coltart.
On Khumalo’s chances, Phiri said her draw card was thin.
“Her major strength is that she is the incumbent and a woman candidate — that might work for her,” he explained.
“However, the fact that she was raising minority issues in Parliament, which have to do with legalising prostitution, that is a massive minus. “Those issues do not resonate with the majority of the electorate.”
Phiri said the internal MDC-T squabbles in the province could work against Khumalo.
