Over 30 000 voters reject Khupe’s MPs.
HARARE,Zimbabwe.(News of the South)-More than 30 000 voters have responded to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s call to send in objections to MDCT leader Thokozani Khupe’s intention to replace MPs she recalled with nominees of her choice.
By Pamela T. Munyoro
Khupe had sent ZEC names of 15 nominees to replace some of the 21 MPs, she had recalled with the other 6 constituency legislators set to be replaced through by election.
ZEC invited those who object the nominees should file them with the electoral commission.
After some time, ZEC confirmed receiving the voters’ objections as Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana said:“We have received the volumes of objections, but as you might be aware, the closing date for their receipt was yesterday (Friday), so we have not gone through them as yet. We have to verify to see if they were submitted in terms of the electoral law. If they are valid, there is a provision to disqualify someone from occupying the seat.”
Khupe nominated herself to the National Assembly, while her spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni is set for the Senate.
Meanwhile, some voters in Bulawayo East held an emergency meeting in Mahatshula where they resolved to block Khupe’s nomination.
“As Bulawayo East voters, we are saying during the July 2018 harmonised elections, we overwhelmingly voted for the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa. Our constituency and our votes contributed to the cumulative provincial votes which formed the basis for the allocation of the proportional representative according to the Electoral Act,” said Gilbert Sibanda, who is spearheading the objection process.
Sibanda said voters in the constituency feel cheated by the replacement of their elected MPs by someone who was not voted for.
ZEC is left only left with notifying the public if the replacing of MPs will proceed further or not.
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