VICTORIA FALLS – Zanu PF’s Tonderai Mutasa was sworn-in as councillor for Ward 1 in Victoria Falls on Thursday after independent candidate Ephias Mambume was disqualified by the Electoral Court.
Mambume’s disqualification followed a challenge filed by Mutasa, arguing that the former CCC councillor – recalled by self-styled party leader Sengezo Tshabangu – had outstanding council bills which had not been settled for more than 120 days as required by law for candidates for council elections.
In a public notice, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said Wednesday that he setting aside of Mambume’s nomination by Justice Bongani Ndlovu of the Bulawayo High Court, sitting as an Electoral Court judge, on November 18 had only left one candidate on the ballot for a by-election that was pencilled in for November 30.
“Consequently, the public is hereby notified… that since only one candidate has been duly nominated for Victoria Falls municipality Ward 1, being Mutasa Tonderai of Zanu PF party, he has been duly elected as the councillor with effect from November 18, 2024,” the notice said.
Mutasa took his oath of loyalty to the laws of Zimbabwe in front of town clerk Ronnie Dube.
Mambume has vowed to challenge his disqualification at the Supreme Court.
He was found by the Electoral Court to have failed to pay rates with council records showing that he owed ZiG 103,039 and US$7,127.50 on one stand and US$5,160 on another piece of land.
