Three candidates nominated for Bulawayo Ward 1 by-election

Three candidates have been nominated to contest the Bulawayo City Council Ward 1 by-election on 3 October.

They are Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate Mduduzi Sibanda, independent candidate Shepherd Sithole and Zanu-PF candidate Mathias Tichaona Tsikira.

The seat became vacant after the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works declared it vacant following the removal of councillor Josiah Mutangi, who was found guilty of misconduct by an independent tribunal.

The Nomination Court sat at Small City Hall on Wednesday, with all three candidates successfully filing their nomination papers.

Bulawayo Central District Election Officer Aleck Simuzibe Dube said the process opened at 10am and closed at 4pm.

“Our nomination court opened on time with 10:00 hours and we closed at 1600 hours. We had three candidates and they filed their papers successively,” Dube said.

Dube said a poll would be held because more than one candidate had been duly nominated.

“Since we have more than one candidate, who have been duly nominated for the office of Council in Ward 1. Polling shall take place on 3rd October 2026 in accordance with section 125A of the Electoral Act Chapter 230,” he said.

Tsikira was the first to submit his nomination papers. Sibanda filed his papers at about 2pm, while Sithole submitted his at about 3pm.

The three candidates can now campaign ahead of the by-election, subject to the Electoral Act and the Electoral Code of Conduct.