MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it’s all systems go for Thursday’s Council of Chiefs elections to be conducted in all the country’s eight rural provinces.
The Chiefs Council elections will see 18 of the traditional leaders being elected into the upper house of Parliament, the Senate.
ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Utoile Silaigwana told The Midweek Watch that the Provincial Assemblies of Chiefs from the country’s 8 provinces will converge at various venues from 10`oclock in the morning tomorrow for the crucial elections to be presided over by ZEC provincial elections officer.
He said the provincial assemblies of chiefs forms the Electoral College in line with the Traditional Leaders Act.
“The Provincial Assemblies of Chiefs made up of all chiefs in the country’s 8 rural provinces will meet on 3 August 2023 to choose their respective members to the Chiefs Council.
“According to Section 35 of the Traditional Leaders Act, the Provincial Assemblies of Chiefs form the Electoral College. Section 40(b) of the Electoral Act states that for the purpose of electing two Chiefs to the Senate to represent each non-metropolitan province, each provincial assembly of Chiefs shall constitute an Electoral College which shall be convened at a time and venue to be fixed by the President,” he said.
Four provinces that include Manicaland, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and Midlands will elect 5 chiefs each whilst Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Matebeleland South are expected to elect 4 chiefs respectively.
In Manicaland, traditional leaders will converge at Chiefs’ Hall, Mutare, Mashonaland Central at New Government Building in Bindura, Mashonaland East at Mbuya Nehanda Hall in Marondera and Mashonaland West will conduct its elections at Cooksey Memorial Hall, Chinhoyi.
With elections for Masvingo expected to be held at Chief’s Hall in Masvingo City whereas Matabeleland North Chief’s Hall in Ntabazinduna will be the venue for the provincial polls whilst those in Matabeleland South they meet at the Government Buildings in Gwanda and Midlands province at the Chief’s Hall, Senga, Gweru.
Silaigwana added that “the Council of Chiefs established on 3 August 2023 will convene on 10 August 2023 to elect the President and Deputy President of the National Council of Chiefs”.
On August 24, two Senators Chiefs for each of the eight non-metropolitan provinces will be elected.
“These will be elected by the Provincial Assemblies of Chiefs. Senate will have 18 Chiefs, 2 from each of the 8 non-metropolitan Provinces and the President and Deputy President of the Chiefs Council,” said the chief elections officer.
