Proclamation

HIS EXCELLENCY THE HONOURABLE EMMERSON DAMBUDZO MNANGAGWA, G.C.Z.M., President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of Zimbabwe.

WHEREAS, in terms of section 129(1)(k) and section 159 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, as read with section 39(1), of the Electoral Act the seats of members of Parliament for Pumula, Nkulumane, Epworth, Glen Norah, Harare Central, Highfield East, Highfield West, Kuwadzana East, Kuwadzana, Mufakose, St Marys, Glen View North, Kambuzuma, Harare East, Dangamvura-Chikanga, Mutasa South, Marondera Central, Marondera East, Murewa South, Chivi South, Mwenezi East, Binga North, Tsholotsho South, Mkoba, Kwekwe, Mbizo, Mberengwa South and Gokwe Central have become vacant by reason of members of the National Assembly having ceased to belong to a political party which they were members when elected to the National Assembly, by reason of the death of the members of the National Assembly and by reason of appointment of a member to another post;

AND WHEREAS it is provided by section 39(2) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], that after the President has been notified in terms of the said section of vacancies in the membership of National Assembly, he shall issue a proclamation ordering a new election to fi ll the vacancies in the same manner, mutatis mutandis, as is provided in section 38 of the said Act in regard to a general election;

HIS EXCELLENCY THE HONOURABLE EMMERSON DAMBUDZO MNANGAGWA, G.C.Z.M., President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of Zimbabwe.

WHEREAS, by section 143(1) of the Constitution, Parliament is elected for a five year term which runs from the date on which the President-elect is sworn in and assumes office in terms of section 94(1)(a) of the Constitution;

AND WHEREAS, after the last election, the President was sworn in on the 22nd day of August 2013, and the five year period ends on the 21st day of August, 2018;

AND WHEREAS it is provided by section 144(1) of the Constitution that where Parliament has not earlier passed resolutions to dissolve in terms of section 143(2), the President must by proclamation call and set dates for a general election to be held within a period prescribed in section 158;

AND WHEREAS, in terms of section 158(1)(a) of the Constitution, a general election must be held so that polling takes place not more than thirty days before the expiry of the five year period specified in section 143;