The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has set October 3, 2026, as the date for the Bulawayo Ward 1 council by-election following the removal from office of former councillor Josiah Mutangi.
In an election notice issued on Thursday, ZEC said candidates seeking to contest the vacant seat will submit their nominations on September 2 from 10am to 4pm.
The nomination court will sit at the offices of the Town Clerk at Bulawayo City Council.
The Ward 1 by-election follows the removal of Mutangi from office after an independent tribunal found him guilty of misconduct.
On this topic
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe declared the seat vacant in a letter dated July 14, 2026, following the tribunal’s determination.
The minister said the vacancy was created in terms of Section 278(1) of the Constitution, read together with Section 129(1)(b).
ZEC said the by-election would be held on October 3 if a poll was necessary under Section 125(4)(a) of the Electoral Act.
The commission also set September 2 as the nomination date for the Hwange Ward 18 by-election. The nomination court will sit at the offices of the chief executive officer of Hwange Rural District Council.
The Hwange by-election was triggered by the death of the incumbent councillor.
Mutangi’s removal came several months after he was convicted by a Bulawayo magistrate on 13 counts of fraud in December 2025.
He and his accomplice, Janet Zhou, were convicted after defrauding local vendors by falsely promising them vending bays in the city centre.
The two were ordered to perform community service, while Mutangi was also ordered to pay restitution of US$200 to each of the 13 affected vendors.
The Ward 1 by-election will determine who fills the vacant council seat in the Bulawayo ward.
Leave a Reply