Zanu PF will not have the five vacant Bulawayo parliamentary seats on a silver platter after its candidates were challenged in all constituencies at the close of the nomination court yesterday.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU/ SILAS NKALA The ruling party had been relishing chances of regaining control of the province for the first time since the formation of the MDC over 15 years ago after major opposition parties indicated they would boycott the polls.
However, independent candidates threw in their hats into the ring in all the five constituencies and Tsholotsho North in Matabeleland North targeted by Information minister Jonathan Moyo.
Moyo who lost the 2013 polls to Roselyn Nkomo of MDC-T at the time will be challenged by Busani Ncube and Getrude Sibanda, both former MDC-T members.
Moyo who once ran as an independent after he was fired by Zanu PF said he was still confident of capturing the seat.
“There is not a single example of development that has been brought by an opposition worse by an independent, ask me, I have that experience,” Moyo said after filing nomination papers.
“It’s not about Jonathan Moyo’s chances. This is about giving the people of Tsholotsho an opportunity to correct an obvious wrong that happened in 2013.
“I already have a responsibility in the government, but I want to marry that responsibility with the representation of the people to bring real development to the constituency of Tsholotsho North.”
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Sibanda and Ncube said they were not scared of Moyo’s.
“I am confident that I would be the next Tsholotsho North MP,” Sibanda said.
Ncube said he was motivated to run to stop Zanu PF from taking the seat.
“I am not intimidated (by Moyo), and this is the reason why I decided to contest this election because we cannot let the constituency go to Zanu PF,” he said.
The Tsholotsho North seat along with Makokoba , Pumula, Luveve, Lobengula-Magwegwe and Mpopoma-Pelandaba fell vacant following MDC-T’s decision to fire MDC Renewal team MPs.
Independent candidates who include former MDC MPs are contesting in Bulawayo. Zapu would be fielding candidates in the polls.
