By Staff Reporter
Chitungwiza’s Acting Mayor, Kiven Mutimbanyoka will not return to council after the elections as he successfully contested to represent ZANU PF as the Parliamentary candidate for Zengeza East.
Mutimbanyoka became acting mayor after former Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko was recalled by MDC leader Douglas Mwonzora in March 2022.
Maiko was accused of supporting the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
However, Mutimbanyoka faces an uphill task as Zengeza East is an opposition stronghold.
Currently, the seat for the area is held Goodrich Chimbaira who is from Nelson Chamisa’s CCC.
Mutimbanyoka is the second councillor-turned-MP-aspirant after Zanu PF Mbare Ward 4 councillor Martin Sunungukai Matinyanya.
Matinyanya also abandoned future plans to run for council again to pursue legislative ambitions.
However, Matinyanya’s bid hangs in limbo as he awaits to go through a re-run.
Zimbabwe is set to hold its harmonised elections later this year.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi announced that the elections will happen somewhere between July 26 and August 26.
The exact date is awaiting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s proclamation.
The elections are eagerly awaited following the country’s implosion since the coup in 2017 which was heralded as a new beginning.
However, ruling party supporters contend that the second republic is doing well.