The ManicaPost
Headlands constituency is located in Makoni District in Manicaland province. The province has 26 national assembly and 6 senatorial constituencies. This constituency was curved off from the old Makoni North constituency and it covers Inyati, Eagles Nest, Headlands, Monte Casino, Anoldine and Chiendambuya.
The constituency consists of eight wards (6, 7,8,10,12,32,34 and 37). The main source of livelihood for the people is small scale farming. There are also timber plantations in this constituency. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) allocated the province 1 303 polling stations during the 2013 harmonised elections. The Constituency was allocated 51 polling stations during the July 31 2013 harmonised elections.
According to the ZimStat Census Report of 2012, the total population of the province was 1 752 698 in 2012. There were 830 697 males, constituting 47 percent of the population and 922 001 females, 53 percent of the population. The population in Manicaland province was relatively young with 44 percent aged below 15 years and about 3 percent age 65 years and above. Headlands has a population of 56062, of which 27542 are males and 28 520 are females.
In 2008 Didymus Mutasa won with 7 257 votes and received a 51 percent increase in votes in 2013 when he retained the seat garnering 10 975 votes.
The constituency has been a Zanu-PF stronghold, as opposition parties have failed to win in both elections.
During the 2013 Referendum a total of 15 471 votes were cast, 14 322 voted in favour of the Constitution, 852 voted against and 297 were rejected votes.
There was an increase in the numbers of voters from 2008 to 2013. The Headlands by-election will be held on the 10th of June 2015. The seat fell vacant after the Member of Parliament Didymus Mutasa was expelled from Zanu-PF and subsequently recalled from parliament. According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Section 129 (1) (k) the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member ceases to belong to the political party of which he or she was a member when elected to Parliament. In accordance with the Electoral Act, Section 39 (2) the President proclaimed the date of the election as 10 June and 8 April 2015 as the date for nomination. According to the ZEC 2013 Harmonised election report, there were 6 441 157 registered voters in the national register.
Manicaland province had a total of 849 499 registered voters in 2013, up from 709 664 in 2008 and 686 767 in 2005. In terms of the registration statistics Manicaland became the province with the highest number of registered voters. According to the ZEC delimitation report the constituency had 25 806 registered voters in 2008.
Zanu-PF held its primary elections for the seat on the 5th of April 2015 with Cde Christopher Chingosho emerging the winner to represent the party with 3556, and his closest rival Taurayi Chiripamberi polled 2218 votes. Prior to the holding of the primary elections 7 other candidates who had been blocked by the party from contesting lost their appeals to take part in the primaries.
The MDC formations will not take part in the by-elections.
The nomination process was conducted on the 8th of April at the Mutare Magistrates’ court. Mr Didymus Mutasa’s papers were disqualified following an objection by Zanu-PF who cited that he did not represent the party. The following were duly nominated as candidates:
Christopher Chingosho – Zanu- PF.
Albert Mukaratirwa – Independent
David Mukunda – National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
These three candidates will contest on the 10th of June 2015 in the constituency.
ZESN urges the political parties and candidates contesting in the by election to observe peace and tolerate divergent views. ZESN calls upon the government to finalise the process of alignment of Electoral provisions to the Constitution, in particular voter registration. – ZESN.
