Tendai Mugabe Herald Reporter
Four candidates have successfully filed nomination papers at Rotten Row Court for the Epworth Constituency parliamentary by-election set for September 19.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Cde Amos Midzi in a suspected case of suicide in June.
The four are Cde Zalerah Hazvineyi Makari (Zanu-PF), Mr Tsikirai Muchena (Transform Zimbabwe), Mr Genacious Muzambi (Zapu) and Mr Daniel Foya (independent).
Cde Makari who was brimming with confidence told The Herald after filing her papers that victory was certain for Zanu-PF.
She said she was keen to see meaningful development in Epworth once voted into Parliament.
“It is my wish not only as a woman, but as a leader to go to the grassroots and understand the problems that people are facing in Epworth,” she said.
Cde Makari said Epworth residents were tired of male candidates who always make false promises during election period.
She said most of the MPs in the constituency had a tendency of abandoning the constituency soon after being voted into office.
“I want to bring development in Epworth,” she said.
“Firstly, I want to bring regulation of stands in the constituency because most people do not have title deeds for the houses they own. Another important area which I want to prioritise is industry and employment creation.”
Cde Makari described Zanu-PF as a winning team adding that the revolutionary party was poised for a resounding victory.
Other contestants could not be reached for comment after filing their papers.
The Epworth by-election will be held on the same day with two other by-elections in Mbire and Marondera Central that became vacant following the expulsion of Messrs David Butau and Ray Kaukonde for plotting to topple President Mugabe.
Elections were due in Mwenezi East on the same day, but Zanu-PF’s candidate Cde Joshua Moyo was nominated unopposed.
The seat was declared vacant after Mr Kudakwashe Bhasikiti was fired from Zanu-PF for his links to the Joice Mujuru cabal.
Zanu-PF has bagged all the by-elections that have been called since the July 31 2013 harmonised elections with the MDC-T failing to field candidates citing alleged lack of electoral reforms.