Political Correspondent
Tonderai Mutasa of Zanu-PF has been officially sworn in as the Councillor for Ward 1 in Victoria Falls following the disqualification of independent candidate Ephias Mambume by the Electoral Court.
This decision came after Mutasa challenged Mambume’s candidacy, citing outstanding council debts that had not been settled for over 120 days, which is a requirement for candidates in council elections.
Disqualification of Ephias Mambume
Mambume, a former councillor from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), was recalled by party leader Sengezo Tshabangu. The Electoral Court, presided over by Justice Bongani Ndlovu, ruled on November 18, 2024, that Mambume’s failure to pay his council rates—amounting to ZiG 103,039 and US$7,127.50 for one property, and US$5,160 for another—rendered him ineligible to run for office.
Election Outcome
Following Mambume’s disqualification, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced that Mutasa was the only candidate left for the upcoming by-election, which was scheduled for November 30. Consequently, he was declared duly elected as councillor effective from November 18, 2024. Mutasa took his oath of loyalty in front of town clerk Ronnie Dube.
Future Legal Challenge
In response to his disqualification, Mambume has expressed his intention to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the decision that barred him from participating in the election.
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