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Highfield and Kuwadzana by-election dates announced
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
February 06, 2003

The polling dates for Highfield and Kuwadzana constituencies have been set for 29 and 30 March 2003 whilst the nomination date has been set for 21 February 2003. The voters’ roll for the Highfield constituency has already been opened for inspection by the Registrar General’s Office.

Kuwadzana constituency fell vacant following the death of the Learnmore Jongwe in October last year. Jongwe who was also the party’s spokesman died in remand prison awaiting trial for the murder of his wife. Whilst the Highfield seat fell vacant following the expulsion of Munyaradzi Gwisai from the MDC party. Contesting for the Kuwadzana seat is Nelson Chamisa of the MDC, David Mutasa of the ruling ZANU PF party and Kempton Chihuhute of National Alliance for Good Governance (NAGG).

ZANU PF has already chosen Joseph Chinotimba to contest in the impending by-election in Highfield, MDC and NAGG have not yet chosen their candidates. This election is very crucial to all contesting political parties as far as the political power holding is concerned.

In June 2000 parliamentary election, ZANU PF won 63 seats and the opposition MDC 57 in the 120 contested seats. Apparently, MDC now has 53 seats after loosing four seats in by-elections held in Chikomba, Marondera West, Bindura and Makoni West, Bikita West and Insiza. The ruling ZANU PF now holds 65 seats in the 150-member parliament, and of the 150 seats, 30 are reserved for chiefs, governors and non-constituent MPs.

Already reports have been received of violent clashes between MDC and ZANU-PF supporters in Kuwadzana constituency.

The secretary of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) was recently quoted (The Herald 13/01/03) as saying that members of his association would be "out in full force to ensure that ZANU-PF wrestles the seat from the opposition." The MDC candidate, Nelson Chamisa has promised mass protests if the elections appear to have been rigged (Daily News 8/01/03). Given the state’s customary response to mass protests, this would be an unfortunate and undesirable development.

Clearly, the two parties are primed for violence before and/or after the elections, which does not bode well for the residents of Kuwadzana.

ZESN among other civic organisations continues to denounce all acts of violence in both constituencies and urges all registered voters to go and vote on the 29 and 30 of March 2003.

For more information:
Ellen Kandororo, Information Officer
Media and Communication Desk
E-mail: ellenk@zesn.org.zw

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