FORMER Pumula legislator Albert Mhlanga, who is seeking re-election as an independent, has vowed to retain the seat saying the Zanu PF candidate was shocked when he spotted him filing his nomination papers.
BY PRIVILEGE SHOKO
Mhlanga is contesting against six candidates and described the rivals as “little known”.
“I have never been defeated in the elections and as you know I was once an MP for two terms for this constituency,” he said.
“I have been a deputy mayor for Bulawayo. I am not little known and all these candidates are not known “I beat Godfrey Malaba of Zanu PF twice and he was shocked when he saw me filing the nomination papers because he thought I was not contesting.”
Malaba could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mhlanga said he was cleared by MDC Renewal Team to stand as an independent candidate.
“I never defied the party order to boycott elections, but we talked with all the members including Tendai Biti (Renewal Team secretary-general) and agreed that those who wanted to take part in the by-elections should contest as independent candidates,” he said.
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“We did not have time to conduct a national council meeting to address this issue because it was just a short notice.
We agreed that all members of the party would support whoever is contesting.
“There was no reason for me to boycott the elections because I knew that I would win. The people in my constituency will vote for me.”
By-elections were called after the MDC-T fired 21 MPs aligned to MDC Renewal Team.
Only 14 seats will be contested as the rest were allocated through proportional representation.
Other by-elections will be held in Headlands and Hurungwe West after Zanu PF fired Didymus Mutasa and Temba Mliswa, respectively.
