Independent candidates are set to dominate the race for three vacant Victoria Falls City Council seats, with 15 of the 18 nominated candidates choosing to contest outside political party structures following the controversial recall of three Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors.
The by-elections, scheduled for 1 August 2026, will fill vacancies in Wards 9, 10 and 11 after councillors Mthunzi Mpofu, Nkanyiso Sibindi and Daniel Moyo, who were elected on the CCC ticket, were recalled from office on 4 June 2026 by interim CCC secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.
The recalls were subsequently effected by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe.
After Nomination Court for Victoria Falls sat on Wednesday, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has released the list of nominated candidates, showing that independent candidates overwhelmingly outnumber those representing political parties.
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Only Zanu PF is fielding candidates in all three wards, while ZAPU will contest only Ward 11.
Ward 9 has four candidates:
- Mathe Simbarashe (Independent)
- Mudenda Liberty (Independent)
- Sibanda Tapiwa Kwendu (Zanu PF)
- Sibanda Vusumuzi (Independent)
Ward 10 attracted the highest number of candidates, with eight contesting:
- Chuma Preston (Independent)
- Kagande Prince T (Independent)
- Mathe Ayanda (Independent)
- Muzhazha Abel (Independent)
- Ndlovu Deffin (Independent)
- Sagambi Tonderai (Independent)
- Sibanda Thindolie (Zanu PF)
- Sibindi Nkanyiso (Independent)
Ward 11 will see six candidates on the ballot:
- Maseko Conference (Independent)
- Mhlanga George (Zanu PF)
- Mianda Jephat Siabusu (Independent)
- Moyo Daniel (Independent)
- Ncube Francis (ZAPU)
- Ndlovu Mqondisi (Independent)
The by-elections come against the backdrop of controversy surrounding the recalls, which sparked protests from residents and civic organisations.
At the time, residents told CITE the recalls were aimed at silencing councillors who had been outspoken on alleged corruption, questionable land allocations, procurement practices and poor service delivery within the local authority.
Read: https://cite.org.zw/victoria-falls-recalls-target-anti-corruption-voices-residents-claim/
Civic groups argued that removing the three councillors weakened oversight and accountability in the tourism city’s administration, although those behind the recalls dismissed the allegations.
The nomination outcome suggests many aspiring candidates are placing greater confidence in independent campaigns than established political parties.
With only three party-backed candidates outside Zanu PF and just one ZAPU candidate on the ballot, the August 1 polls are expected to test whether Victoria Falls voters will continue to favour individual candidates over political party labels in the aftermath of the controversial recalls.
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