A tweet on Saturday by former government minister Jonathan Moyo says the Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube has declined to contest the Lupane East by-election. Ncube was speculated to be a possible candidate for the by-election to be held on 3 August.
Moyo himself speculates that Ncube is afraid of some Zanu-PF senior members like Obert Mpofu who apparently are plotting against him.
So @MthuliNcube is having butterflies in his stomach about contesting the Parly by-election in Lupane East constituency, which fell vacant after the death of Sithembile Gumbo in April. The story is that @MthuliNcube fears Obert Mpofu & co are trying to "pull a Jonso" on him!🤣 pic.twitter.com/uUAfknAfjN
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) June 8, 2019
The Lupane East parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of Zanu PF’s Sithembile Gumbo on April 15.