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Cde Mnangagwa

Harare Bureau
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission now awaits President Mugabe’s proclamation to call for parliamentary by-elections in constituencies that were held by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor  Joice Mujuru.This comes after Parliament early this week wrote to President Mugabe and ZEC advising them of the vacancies that have arisen in the legislature.

The notification was in line with Section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act which stipulates that: “In the event of a vacancy occurring among constituency members of the National Assembly, otherwise than through a dissolution of Parliament, the Speaker shall notify the President and the Commission of the vacancy, in writing, as soon as possible after he or she becomes aware of it.’’

The other two vacancies are in the Senate where Edna Madzongwe lost her seat after being elected Senate president and the other one left vacant following the passing on of national hero, Kumbirai Kangai last year.

Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said Parliament had done its part by notifying President Mugabe and ZEC of the vacant seats.

“We simultaneously advised His Excellency and ZEC about the vacancies,” he said.

Mudenda said Parliament had already communicated the vacancies with regards to Madzongwe and Kangai.

ZEC acting Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana confirmed receiving notice from Parliament about the vacancies.

“Yes, we got the notices, but we’re now waiting for Presidential proclamation because this one is unlike wards (local authorities) where we could proclaim,” he said.

“We got notice of two vacancies in the National Assembly as well as two in the Senate. But as you may be aware the one that became vacant after Kangai’s death has its own issues.”

Section 129 (1) (c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act of 2013 that deals with the tenure of seat of a Member of Parliament stipulates that, “the seat of a Member of Parliament shall become vacant upon the Member becoming President or Vice President.’’

Mujuru was, thus, going to Parliament as Vice President, not as Member of Parliament since Vice Presidents are not Members of Parliament.

She was fired from the government, along with eight ministers, on December 9 for behaviour inconsistent with her official responsibilities in the discharge of her  duties.

This came in the wake of allegations of high level corruption, bribery, extortion, abuse of office, undermining the authority of President Mugabe and seeking to depose or assassinate the President.