By Own Correspondent.
MUATARE, Zimbabwe. (News of The South)- Eight candidates, three of them independent, are set to battle it out for the vacant Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency after the Nomination court approved their candidatures for their respective parties.
The seat fell vacant after incumbent Arnold Tsonga of the MDC-T was recalled from parliament by his party, for joining forces with a splinter group led by former party secretary general Tendai Biti.
Local businessman Esau Mupfumi will represent ZANU- PF, Mawire Pfugamai will stand for Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn, Piwai Gashirai will represent the Freedom Party, Taedzai Maxwell will represent Transform Zimbabwe while Kadzere Chengetai Richard, Mundenda James and Maundike Kuziva will stand as independent candidates.
The election date has been set for 10 June this year.
This unprecedented upsurge of independent candidates is seen as proliferation of political ideas to challenge the ruling ZANU-PF which has a stranglehold of Manicaland with 22 MPs for the constituencies.
One such candidate said he was confident of victory as his aim was to ensure good service delivery for urban constituency adding mischievously that with Mupfumi as one of his opponents he would sweep 80% of the vote.
Maundike Kuziva proprietor of Shekainah Gold in Odzi said he was confident that he would romp to victory despite inherent challenges of standing in as an independent candidate.
“If I’m contesting with Mupfumi I’m confident of victory. In fact I will poll maybe 80% of the total votes.
“However as you know being an independent is not easy as one will have to finance himself and this could be challenge because others will be sponsored by their parties,” he said.
Kuziva, a former police inspector who left the force in 2006 following victimization at the height of political inability said this was now his time to stand in and be counted.
“I was a policeman an inspector but I resigned from the force voluntarily because I feared for my life as I was being victimized for being professional and I was accused of being an MDC and at that time it was not easy,” he said.
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