NATIONAL Housing and Social Amenities minister and Chikanga-Dangamvura MP Giles Mutsekwa (MDC-T) has become the latest casualty of the party’s confirmation exercise after he failed to garner enough votes to avoid primary elections on Saturday.
Report by Obey Manayiti
Mutsekwa now faces prominent human rights defender Arnold Tsunga in primaries, whose date is yet to be advised.
According to MDC-T Manicaland provincial chairman Julius Magarangoma, 195 party supporters voted against Mutsekwa while 165 were in his favour.
The initial confirmation exercise in Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency was suspended two weeks ago after party members demonstrated, citing voting irregularities.
Meanwhile, councillors Noel Nezomba (ward 17), Sangani Mubatanhema (ward 18), Morgan Chipara (ward 5) and Silas Rumhungwe (ward 4) lost the bid to represent the party in the forthcoming polls after they failed the party’s internal test on Saturday.
Acting Mutare mayor George Jerison will have to go for a rerun after he pulled the same number of votes as Tsitsi Ziweya.
Secretary for youth Lloyd Mahute was elected as a candidate for ward 10 which fell vacant after incumbent councillor Exavia Upare was fired by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo on corruption charges.
