Several aspiring female candidates have expressed their readiness to campaign and contest in the upcoming December 9 by-election for eight vacant Bulawayo council seats.
The nomination court sat yesterday in Bulawayo to receive nomination papers from the aspiring council candidates.
The by-election will be held in wards 1, 6, 9, 18, 20, 21, 22, and 24. The wards were previously held by male councillors who were recalled from their positions.
Among the aspiring female candidates is Sihle Muzenda, an independent candidate who campaigned under the Mpopoma-Mzilikazi constituency in the August 23 election under Freedom Alliance. Muzenda is confident in her ability to succeed in the by-election, believing that her focus on a smaller ward will provide her with an advantage.
“I am running under ward 9. I believe I am a leader, and as a leader, it doesn’t matter where you start from. When I look at the funds, last time I parted with US$1,000, I realised that it’s only a month away from the by-election, there won’t be enough time, so it needs strong muscle, and there won’t be enough time to campaign. As long as I am still in the process of leading people, I believe I am still in the right direction,” said Muzemda.
Another female candidate, Nomagugu Ndlovu of ZAPU, is running under Ward 20. Ndlovu expressed her enthusiasm for the by-election and her belief in her ability to represent her constituents.
“The nomination went well, and we are looking forward to these by-elections going well,” said Ndlovu.
In Ward 21, Makaita Tekere, a female ZANU-PF candidate, is set to battle it out with CCC-recalled councillor Tinevimbo Maphosa.
