Labour Economist African Democrats (LEAD) president Linda Masarira has indicated that she is contesting for the Harare Central constituency seat in the impending by-elections.
Zimbabwe is set to hold by-elections for 28 Parliamentary constituencies that became vacant due to recalls and deaths of various legislators.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa proclaimed that the by-elections will be held on the 26th of March this year.
The Nomination Court for the elections is expected to sit end of this month.
In an interview on whether she will be contesting in the by-elections, Masarira highlighted that she is eyeing the Harare Central seat.
‘’I am contesting for MP (Member of Parliament) in Harare Central in the by-elections and for President in 2023,’’ she said.
This is not the first time that Masarira has contested for the seat. In 2018 she tried her luck and but failed to beat Murisi Zwizwai of MDC Alliance. He polled 10 876 against her measly 2251 votes.
There is a possibility that Masarira will again come up against Zwizwai again in the by-elections. That is if MDC Alliance decides to participate.
Zwizwai became the legislator for the constituency in 2003. He took over from Michael Auret who resigned due to poor health.
LEAD to strive for 50/50 candidates
Asked how many women her political party will field in the by-election, Masarira who is a women rights advocate, indicated that they will strive to do 50/50.
She said the picture will only come out clearly after the party’s election committee has finished going through the candidates’ applications.
‘’We will thrive to make it 50/50. Our elections committee is still vetting the applications we have. And we will only be certain of our candidates by Thursday then we will make an informed statement.
‘’So far in Harare, we have four (4) MP candidates who are women and four (4) ward council candidates in Chinhoyi who are all women, and these have been confirmed by our elections committee and they have already started to fill out their nomination forms in their respective constituencies and wards,’’ she said. #ElectionsZW
