The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has announced that council by-elections will be held on February 21, 2026, in various wards across the country.
According to ZEC’s notice, four council seats fell vacant due to the deaths of the incumbents, while one seat became vacant due to the incarceration of the incumbent.
“WHEREAS it is provided in terms of section 278 of the Constitution that the seat of a local authority councillor becomes vacant in the circumstances set out in section 129 as if he or she were a member of Parliament.
“AND WHEREAS the Commission has received notification, in writing, that –
a) the seats of councillors for Ward 14 of Beitbridge Rural District Council, Ward 1 of Chegutu Municipality, Ward 7 of Chikomba Rural District Council, and Ward 13 of Matobo Rural District Council, have become vacant due to the deaths of the incumbent councillors;
“(b) the seat of the councillor for Ward 12 of Chikomba Rural District Council has become vacant due to the conviction
of the incumbent councillor who was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of more than six months without the option of a fine or other non-custodial punishment;
“AND WHEREAS it is provided that upon being notified of a vacancy in terms of subsection (1) of section 121 of the
Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] the Commission shall publish a notice in accordance with section 121A (2),” read the notice.
The notice further advised that the nomination court for registering candidates will sit on January 21, 2026.
“NOW THEREFORE the Commission hereby notifies the public of the vacancies that have so arisen. The public is further
notified that:
“(a) The nomination courts for purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards shall sit on Wednesday, 21 January, 2026 commencing from 10:00 hours to 16:00 hours;
“(b) The nomination courts shall sit at the places designated in the Schedule for the purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the wards in the stated local authorities;
“c) Saturday, the 21st day of February, 2026 has been fixed as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 125(4)(b) of the Electoral Act,” ZEC said.
The nomination courts will sit at the following locations: Ward 14 Beitbridge – Offices of the Chief Executive Officer, Beitbridge Rural District Council, 275 Hagelthorn Road, Beitbridge; Ward 1 Chegutu Municipality – Offices of the Town Clerk, 34 Queen Street, Chegutu; Ward 7 and 12 Chikomba RDC 542 Terreblanche Street, Chivhu; and Ward 13 Matobo RDC – Offices of the Chief Executive Officer, Matobo Rural District Council, 183 Maphisa.
Parties and candidates have less than a week to prepare before the nomination court sits on January 21, 2026.
Vhayeya.com caught up with the Chikomba RDC Council Chairperson Cde Israel Dhikinya, who said they are expecting to know their candidates soon as ZANU PF, and as usual, will conduct primary elections before the nomination court date.
“As you know, the notice for the By-Elections was announced on Tuesday. As an organised party, we will soon be announcing the candidates interested in filling the vacant posts in Wards 7 and 12 of Chikomba RDC. As is the norm, if there are more than two candidates, a primary election will be conducted, and the winner will represent the party after successfully filing their credentials at the nomination court,” said Cde Dhikinya.
He also highlighted that this is an opportunity for ZANU PF to snatch Ward 12 from the opposition.
“It is on record that the ruling party, ZANU PF, under the Second Republic, has never lost these by-elections. Ward 12 was won by the opposition, and this is an opportunity for ZANU PF to reclaim it. We urge voters to vote for ZANU PF in the two wards, which fall under Chikomba West,” he said.
Ward 7 of Chikomba RDC fell vacant following the death of Councillor Florence Mandizvidza who passed away mid December last year whereas Ward 12 became vacant when CCC councilor Ishmael Maukazuva was convicted by the Chivhu Court.
ZANU PF councilor, Cde Tafadzwa Mukandi, won the Ward 10 by-election for Chikomba RDC in July last year.
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Story by Jeremiah Gora
