Staff Correspondent|The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC, which alleged electoral fraud in the July 30 general election, said yesterday it would consult its rank-and-file membership over a decision to contest in the upcoming Mutoko North by-elections, the latest twist in a long-running election dispute.

This comes after Mutoko North MP Mabel Chinomona was elected as President of the Senate after beating MDC Alliance Senator Morgen Komichi.

After being elected as president of the Senate, Chinomona immediately and automatically ceased to be a member of the National Assembly.

There must, therefore, be an early by-election for her former constituency of Mutoko North.

The opposition party’s spokesperson, Jacob Mafume, told the Daily News they will first go to the people before deciding to participate in the by-election.

No date has been announced for the by-elections yet but they are expected soon.

Mafume accused the Zimbabwe Election Commission (Zec) of rigging the July 30 vote, and said they would first need to consult whether to enter the race or not.

“There is something fundamentally wrong with Zec, especially the way Zec runs the elections. We would like to take stock before we commit ourselves to the next elections.

There is need for dialogue among all stakeholders to make sure that Zec is reformed, otherwise we would only be guided by the party on the way forward,” Mafume told the Daily News.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said they are going to participate in the by-election. He said they would await the proclamation of the poll dates by the president.

Presently, there are two vacancies in the National Assembly, one being the proportional representation seat in Matabeleland North that fell vacant following the death of Thokozile Mathuthu on August 13.

This seat will be filled by a qualified woman nominated by the ruling party in terms of section 39 of the Electoral Act.