MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Incumbent Member of Parliament for Mkoba Constituency and long time opposition activist, Amos Chibaya has been declared the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) aspiring candidate for Mkoba North Constituency.
He was announced the winner by the Independent Electoral Panel (IEP) led by Pastor Mambure at Vashandiri Center yesterday after one of the contestant Albert Chirau was disqualified by the vetting panel.
Chirau was believed to have been disqualified for defying the party directives and attending President Mnangagwa freedom of the city conferment among other litany of allegations which are yet to be publicly announced, an inside source told The Midweek Watch.
He however, dismissed the reasons saying, attending President Mnangagwa conferment was a civic duty which as a city father he was bound to do.
The Ward 11 Councilor said he was disqualified for unsubstantiated reasons.
“Shockingly yes, flimsy and stupid reasons were used not to return my name. I had over 3000 supporters against Chibaya’s less than 150 people. I had obliterated him,” said a fuming Chirau.
He said he was sidelined to participate in the third stage of candidates selection despite CCC president Chamisa’s advise that, “we are no longer doing politics of confrontation but engagement. That is why you see the likes of Honourable Chibaya and Hwende attending national events being officiated by President Mnangagwa”.
Chirau told the Midweek Watch that he will file an appeal against the decision.
Chibaya will lock horns with Zanu PF candidate William Gondo in this year’s harmonized elections to be held between July and August.
Meanwhile, in Mkoba South constituency Livingston Chimina outshined other contenders on manifesto presentation, while John Kuka was reported to be at par with Chimina in terms of numbers “ Berekamwana”.
In Gweru Urban Constituency, former City Mayor, Josiah Makombe was said to be leading the pack in both presentation and numbers.
The CCC will next week announce the winners after compiling reports from the IEP.
