…human rights lawyer Mureri takes lead in Masvingo Urban
Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO- City Council Mayor Advocate Collen Maboke and Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson Gibson Hwende were both booted out of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) parliamentary race in Masvingo Urban and Chiredzi Central respectively after their disqualifications on the third stage of the nomination process.
Though Hwende’s reason for disqualification could not be ascertained, Maboke is said to have been disqualified over his controversial ascension to the mayoral seat after defying party leader Nelson Chamisa’s directive to pave way for then favorite Godfrey Kurauone.
Maboke allegedly connived and formed a truce with Zanu PF’s three Masvingo councilors who supported his cause in exchange for the deputy mayoral post which was later won by Zanu PF’s Wellington Mahwende who is now contesting for Masvingo Urban on Zanu PF ticket.
Human Rights Lawyer Advocate Martin Mureri is tipped to represent the party as he is alleged to have been ranked first by the commissioners who were conducting the process.
Mureri will square off with Sam Chapfudza and Gibson Murinye who came third in the next round of the CCC selection process.
Masvingo Urban has since been divided over the two candidates with Mureri allegedly being the national executive’s choice while Chapfudza has support from sitting councilors most of whom were supporting Maboke.
Chapfudza’s main supporters are ward 4 councillor Alec Tabe who is harboring mayoral ambitions, Rocky Kamuzonda of ward 3 who has since moved to ward 2 owing to the delimitation exercise and Kingsley Sibanda who was also contesting and could have discovered that his chances are slim before chickening out.
He also has support from ward 7 councillor Richard Musekiwa who is now contesting in ward 8 courtesy of delimitation.
However, Kamuzonda and Musekiwa’s support could be insignificant for Chapfudza since ward 2 is now in Masvingo West and Ward 8 in Masvingo North.
In Masvingo South Knowledge Mabvuure is likely to sail through and square it off with Zanu PF’s Tanatsiwa Mukomberi after he went uncontested.
Pedzisayi Chifamba was uncontested in Masvingo West, while Emmanuel Chidaushe was uncontested also in Chivi North.
In Zaka North, the contest is between Munyaradzi Zanga and Bettas Makwara following the disqualification of Simon Mupindu who failed to go past the vetting stage for allegedly being aligned to former Provincial Chairperson James Gumbi.
Mupindu however told TellZim News that he had decided not to contest and people just chose to nominate him.
In Chiredzi Central, Chiredzi Town Council vice chairperson Ropafadzo Makumire took the lead followed by John Maganye following the disqualification of town chairperson Gibson Hwende.
In Masvingo Central, Moses Mavhaire allegedly took the lead at vetting stage followed by Innocent Munhazu.
In Chivi South, Dumisani Chikondere is said to be leading followed by Amato Ndekere, while Mhlolo who lost to Zanu PF’s Munyaradzi Zizhou in the 2022 by-elections is now allegedly supporting Chikondere.
In Gutu South, Hamandishe Gobvu took the lead while Erium Musendekwa and Samuel Tsvangirai are still in the race.
