The just-ended by-elections held across the country to fill 28 National Assembly and 121 local government seats saw some members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidates vying for the same post in some constituencies or wards.
In Bulawayo Ward 26, Norman Hlabani, lost Saturday’s by-elections to his rival Mpumelelo Moyo.
CCC fielded double candidates in the ward, which covers Emganwini after both contestants had their candidature cleared by the party’s senior leadership.
The party’s vice president Welshman Ncube reportedly signed for Moyo‘s nomination papers while Hlabani ‘s papers were reportedly signed by the party’s deputy national chairman Job Sikhala.
Hlabani was the incumbent councillor before he was recalled.
In the by-elections, Hlabani polled came third after he polled 261 votes. See by-elections results below:
1). HLABANI NORMAN – CCC – 261
2). MUPEMLELO MOYO – CCC- 748
3). JAPHET NCUBE – DOP- 15
4). SIMANGELE NDEBELE- MDC-A – 57
5). JANANA NGWENYA -Independent – 107
6). LUNGISANI SIBANDA- Zanu PF – 418
Before the results, Hlabani had expressed confidence of retaining the ward.
Meanwhile, some of the voters expressed relief following Hlabani’s defeat saying he was one of the representatives “Shortchanging us all over Bulawayo. We demand better Reps.” Some said the results exonerate the party’s vice-president, Welshman Ncube who was saying Hlabani was not the people’s preferred candidate.
Some said the ward could have gone to ZANU PF while some say “most were subtweeting things they don’t know we are on the ground, people didn’t want Hlabani.”