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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
Zanu-PF has done its homework and will retain the Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe parliamentary seat in tomorrow’s by-election, the revolutionary party’s candidate Cde Auxilia Mnangagwa has said.

She said opposition candidates were just making up numbers by participating in the by-election.

She said they were not in any way going to derail her chances of taking over from where her husband, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, left.

“Everything is in place from our side as Zanu-PF. We’ve done everything possible to come out victors in this by-election,” said Mnangagwa.

She said she had visited all the 15 wards in the constituency canvassing for support.

Cde Mnangagwa said the response from the electorate had been encouraging.

She said she was working well with the electorate and party leadership in the province.

Cde Mnangagwa said 85 polling stations had been identified for the by-election.

“The opposition is participating in the election and there haven’t been any reports of violence as we approach the by-election date. This is a good sign that the elections will be free and fair. We’re calling on all registered voters to come out in their numbers and vote for Zanu-PF, a party with a proven record,” said Mnangagwa.

She said as a mother she had won the hearts of the electorate on the basis of her hard work and honesty, not vote buying.

Cde Mnangagwa is popular for implementing a number of developmental projects in the constituency which include construction of clinics, refurbishment of roads and schools as well as drilling over 10 boreholes across the constituency to address water challenges.

Cde Mnangagwa will face three candidates from largely unknown parties – Transform Zimbabwe and Good People’s Movement Party while the fourth candidate is an independent.

The seat was previously occupied by Vice-President Mnangagwa before his elevation last December. His elevation to the vice-presidency meant he ceased to be a legislator, thus creating the vacancy.