Staff Reporter

Ephias Mambume, an independent candidate widely believed to be aligned with Nelson Chamisa, has been disqualified from contesting the Victoria Falls Ward 1 by-election slated for November 30, 2024.

 The disqualification follows revelations that Mambume has been in arrears on his council rates, a breach of legal requirements for eligibility.

According to a source who preferred anonymity, Mambume owes the Victoria Falls City Council ZWL 103,039 and US$7,127.50 on one of his properties, alongside an additional US$5,160 in respect of Stand Number 9401 in Mkhosana and Stand 1658 BB7 in Victoria Falls.

 The source confirmed that Mambume had been in default regarding the payment of rates and water charges on both stands for over 120 days, thus disqualifying him from the upcoming by-election.

Despite the legal basis for Mambume’s disqualification, Chamisa's faction chose to redirect blame.

Promise Mkwananzi, spokesperson for the faction, accused ZANU PF of using political machinations to undermine opposition candidates.

In a post on X, Mkwananzi wrote, “Our candidate for by-election in Victoria Falls @MambumeVicFalls has been disqualified from the upcoming by-election. @ZANUPF_Official intends to totally decimate the genuine and authentic opposition voices in Zimbabwe. We will not surrender Zimbabwe into a one-party state in the context of democratic progress within the region!”

However, Mkwananzi’s remarks drew criticism from observers who highlighted the factual basis for Mambume’s disqualification.

Frank Neshava, a netizen, castigated the opposition for deflecting blame, stating, “The problem with opposition guys is that they will never own up to mistakes. That guy is said to have rate arrears and therefore doesn’t qualify, but hey, let’s just blame Zanu PF on everything, even our own incompetence. It makes for a good story after all, doesn’t it?”

Meanwhile, with Mambume out of the race, the path is now clear for Zanu PF candidate Tonderai Mutasa, who stands poised to clinch an uncontested victory in the upcoming by-election.