Wezhira Munya
Political history has been made in the Chiredzi Constituencies by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) under the able leadership of President Nelson Chamisa. President Chamisa has become the first opposition president in Zimbabwe since 1980 to field council and parliamentary candidates in all five Chiredzi constituencies. MDC-T, under Mwonzora, among other opposition parties, has failed to field council and parliamentary candidates in the 2023 harmonized elections and before.
The Chiredzi district consists of the following constituencies: Chiredzi Central, Chiredzi North, Chiredzi South, Chiredzi West, and Chiredzi East. The district has a total of forty council seats and five parliamentary seats. The CCC has managed to field forty council candidates and five parliamentary candidates in all five constituencies.
CCC Chiredzi Mungwazo cluster leader Mrs Mugidho said, “We managed to field all candidates in wards and constituencies for the first time in Chiredzi district. This is a breakthrough since 1980. We thank our President Nelson Chamisa for his popularity and leadership, this helped us to get candidates in Chiredzi. We are very optimistic that we win.”
The parliamentary candidates in the Chiredzi district are as follows:
Chiredzi Central aspiring MP:
– Ropafadzo Makumire (CCC)
– Francis Moyo (Zanu PF)
– Gibson Hwende (independent)
Chiredzi North:
– Fungai Chamisa (CCC)
– Roy Bhila
In 2018, MDC Alliance failed to field a candidate in this constituency.
Chiredzi West:
– Nhamoinesu Machigiri (CCC)
– Darlington Chiwa (Zanu PF)
Chiredzi South:
– Douglas Sithole (CCC)
– Joey Sithole (Zanu PF)
Chiredzi East:
– Godfrey Maluleke (CCC)
– Siyaki Mundungahama (Zanu PF)
The success of CCC in fielding parliamentary and council candidates in the Chiredzi constituencies has caused Zanu PF to panic. As a result, Zanu PF members have started using violence against CCC candidates in Chiredzi constituencies. However, CCC candidates remain resolute and brave in the face of Zanu PF threats.
Chiredzi constituencies were previously regarded as Zanu PF strongholds.
