RUTENDO CHIRUME
MASVINGO CITY-Senior Citizens Coalition for Change member who is Chiredzi Town Chairman, Alderman Gibson Hwende and Masvingo City Council Mayor, Advocate Collen Maboke have broken ranks with the opposition and will contest the August 23 elections as independent candidates.
When contacted for comment Maboke and Hwende could not deny or confirm the latest developments, but close sources told The Midweek Watch that the two have made plans to go independent following their disqualification from running under the Nelson Chamisa led CCC despite their popularity.
The source said the two are going to submit their names at the nomination court that is going to sit tomorrow at Masvingo Magistrate Court.
Hwende and Maboke failed at the second hurdle of nomination as their names were struck off in Harare after they were voted by party members to contest as parliamentary candidates under CCC.
Maboke is eying Masvingo Urban Constituency while Hwende is gunning for Chiredzi Central.
Political analysts said Zanu PF has been handed the two seats by the opposition on a platter as the two are going to split the votes in favour of the ruling party.
