Mabvuku-Tafara: Uncontested Victory for Sakupwanya
The residents of Mabvuku-Tafara constituency woke up on the 9th of December to a surprise – their Member of Parliament (MP) had already been chosen. Scott Sakupwanya emerged as the uncontested, undefeated, and unopposed MP due to unforeseen circumstances.
Originally, Sakupwanya was set to face off against the recalled former MP, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi. However, a High Court application by the self-proclaimed CCC Secretary-General, Sengezo Tshabangu, barred all recalled CCC candidates, including Kufahakutizwi, from running under the CCC banner.
This decision left Sakupwanya without an opponent, paving the way for his uncontested victory. However, the situation wasn’t met without protest. Many CCC supporters within the constituency held silent protests, carrying placards expressing their support for Kufahakutizwi and demanding that ZEC return the seat to him.
Adding to the controversy, Tshabangu himself admitted during an interview that he might have made a mistake in recalling Kufahakutizwi from Parliament.
It’s worth noting that during the August 2023 general elections, Sakupwanya’s campaign gained significant attention by inviting boxing legend Floyd Mayweather to the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency. While this stunt garnered much publicity, it ultimately didn’t translate to electoral victory at the time.
The events leading to Sakupwanya’s uncontested victory highlight the complex political landscape within Zimbabwe and raise questions about the role of the judiciary in electoral processes. As the new MP, Sakupwanya faces the task of unifying a divided constituency and addressing the concerns of his constituents.
