Campaigning for the Nkulumane parliamentary by-election has intensified with less than a week to polling day, turning the high-density suburb into a hive of political activity as candidates push their messages door-to-door, through roadshows and at busy shopping centres.
On Saturday, a CITE news crew observed multiple campaign teams on the ground, courting residents from all directions, underscoring how fiercely contested the December 20, 2025 by-election has become.
A roadshow by Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) candidate Alson Moyo drew attention in parts of Nkulumane, while campaign teams for independent candidates Mbuso Fuzwayo and Esther Auxilia Zitha, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate Mothusi “Madlela” Ndlovu and Zanu PF candidate Freedom Murechu were also visible across the constituency.
The by-election has attracted nine candidates, setting the stage for a crowded and unpredictable race in a constituency long regarded as opposition-leaning but now facing a fractured field that could split the vote.
Speaking to CITE during his roadshow, EFF Zimbabwe candidate Moyo expressed confidence about his prospects, saying his long-standing engagement with the community was working in his favour.
“My chances are good because people are open to me. I have always been working with Nkulumane residents and they have been coming to me so that I can work with them,” Moyo said.
He claimed the reception on the campaign trail had been encouraging, with residents asking about the EFF and its policies, but accused the ruling party of resorting to last-minute inducements.
“We have been campaigning well, reception has been good, people asking about EFF, but at the last minute, the ruling party is bringing hampers to people, which it should have done long ago but is doing so now during voting time because it sees that if they don’t do that they may lose Nkulumane,” he said, noting that EFF was confident.
“With the way we have been working, we are hopeful for a positive outcome.”
Moyo did not mince his words about what he sees as Zanu PF’s strategy on the ground.
“Zanu is afraid of competition, which is why it is drilling boreholes now and giving food hampers, which people are happy to receive,” he said.
“My advice is to take these goods wholeheartedly. It is meant for you because Zanu will not always come and give you.”
However, the EFF Zimbabwe candidate stressed that handouts were not a sustainable solution to the challenges facing residents.
“There is no one who will always be a beneficiary because people must always be self-sustainable and do things for themselves. As EFF,we urge people to stand up and go vote in their numbers. It’s their political right, and voting is for development, to fix the economy so that people are sustainable, not for them to be given handouts,” Moyo said.
He painted a bleak picture of household struggles in Nkulumane, linking them to broader economic challenges.
“People must be able to walk into a shop and buy their own groceries, have enough to pay rent and take their children to school. Some are struggling to pay school fees, a situation that will be seen when schools open in January,” he said.
“Zimbabwe must do what is proper. Its economy must be fixed so that people live with dignity. As EFF we know that people have rights and those rights must empower them.”
Outlining his priorities should he be elected, Moyo said his first focus in Parliament would be uplifting Nkulumane through direct engagement with residents.
“In Parliament, the first priority is to uplift Nkulumane. I will sit down with residents,” he said, pointing to basic infrastructure and social challenges.
“We know the challenge in Nkulumane, which is dead tower lights. There are places without light. Thieves hide there and rob people. If there are lights people would be safe, but shopping areas have no tower lights.”
Moyo also highlighted social issues affecting vulnerable groups.
“We must also empower vulnerable children, orphans, the elderly, help the youth and encourage them to stop drugs. Nowadays most youth have no promising lives and are stressed and to end that stress turn to drinking,” he said.
“The youth are the seed of tomorrow and if we lose that seed, the future is destroyed.”
Moyo reiterated that his campaign was centred on voter mobilisation and long-term change rather than short-term relief.
“From our campaign we are reminding people that EFF, we are here. They must vote for us, send us to Parliament to address their grievances,” he said.
“What they have seen from us is just the beginning. We will do more to change their lives. We don’t want to give handouts, we want people to buy for themselves.”
He pledged to push Parliament to respect citizens’ rights and prioritise job creation.
“I will force Parliament to respect people’s rights and give people what they need. Jobs must be available in Nkulumane, industries must be opened so people are employed,” Moyo said.
“Now people are vending but they are arrested and goods seized. That is not a life. We will push to let people sell so they can live decent lives and help children.”
On the CCC side, confidence was equally high. Ntando Ndlela, campaign manager for CCC candidate Mothusi “Madlela” Ndlovu, said the party’s campaign was gaining momentum.
“So far, the campaign is going on peacefully. People of Nkulumane are welcoming him overwhelmingly and everyone wants to associate with him,” Ndlela said.
“We are confident of victory on December 20.”
Ndlela claimed Ndlovu’s popularity had unsettled rivals.
“We have realised we have become a threat to all the other parties that have decided to unite against our candidate, that is Zanu PF and small parties including the independent candidates,” he said.
“Everyone is rallying behind Madlela, who is the one leading the charge. You know in football, the one who has the ball is marked, and that’s what we are seeing.”
While noting some challenges, Ndlela said they had not derailed the campaign.
“There are no major challenges, but you get to some areas like business centres where Zanu has drunk supporters who start to intimidate or threaten us but that has not become full violence, it’s just intimidation, but so far everything is going well and smoothly.”
Meanwhile, Zanu PF structures were also active. At Sekusile in Nkulumane, a group calling itself Miners for ED was seen campaigning for Zanu PF candidate Freedom Murechu.
Blasting Fab G’s popular song Imali Yesgweja, which taps into the struggles of residents trying to make ends meet through mining and informal hustles, also drew crowds.
The nine candidates contesting the Nkulumane seat are Esther Auxilia Zitha (Independent) -widow of the late MP Desire Moyo; Ethel Sibanda (MDC-T); Nompilo Ncube Malaba (Zimbabwe African National Congress – ZANC); Alson Moyo (EFF); Rodney Donovan Jele (Independent); Mbuso Fuzwayo (Independent); Freedom Murechu (Zanu PF); Mothusi “Madlela” Ndlovu (CCC); and Siziba Viyo Vivian (ZAPU).