KEY POINTS
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The president declared two seats vacant under the electoral act.
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The Gutu East and Insiza North seats require fresh nominations.
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The mass parliamentary vacancy proclamation follows recent political developments.
Following events that affected their former legislators, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the parliamentary seats in Gutu East and Insiza North empty.
On April 17 of this year, he made the announcement following official notification from Advocate Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of Parliament.
Mnangagwa proclaims parliamentary seats vacant under legal framework
Following Benjamin Ganyiwa’s dismissal from the ruling ZANU PF party for suspected indiscipline, the seat in the Gutu East constituency became vacant.
The constitutional and electoral laws of Zimbabwe immediately disqualified Ganyiwa from holding onto his parliamentary position after his expulsion.
After its delegate, Cde Farai Taruvinga, died last month after a brief illness, Insiza North also fell vacant.
Taruvinga was well known for promoting development in his rural district and had previously served the constituency as a member of the ZANU PF.
Through Statutory Instrument 44A of 2025, President Mnangagwa issued the official proclamation, which was published in the Government Gazette under Proclamation 3 of 2025.
The legal notice cited sections of the Electoral Act and the Zimbabwean Constitution that specify how parliamentary vacancies are to be announced.
Officials affirmed that the nomination and election procedures for both parliamentary seats will be supervised by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
The proclamation states that on May 15, 2025, the Nomination Courts for the Gutu East and Insiza North by-elections shall convene.
Nomination courts set to fill parliamentary seats vacant
During the one-day court sessions next month, potential candidates will deliver their nomination papers to the electoral officers in their respective constituencies.
The date of the by-elections, which must take place within 90 days as mandated by law, will be announced by ZEC after nominations are closed.
According to Zbc news, political parties can start preparing for what could be highly anticipated by-elections once the vacancies are announced.
Before Zimbabwe’s next general elections in 2028, analysts think the contests may represent broader political sentiments.
To guarantee reliable polling, ZEC has asked political parties to run their campaigns amicably and within the bounds of election regulations.
Voter education and logistical planning have already begun, the commission said, reaffirming its commitment to transparent process management.
