Proclamation 1 of 2024 - By-elections in Harare East and Mount Pleasant Constituencies
By-elections were called for Harare East and Mount Pleasant after Rusty Markham and Fadzayi Mahere resigned on 20 February 2024 — nomination court sat 26 March 2024 and polling was fixed for Saturday 27 April 2024.
The seats of the members of Parliament for Harare East and Mount Pleasant fell vacant when Rusty Markham and Fadzayi Mahere resigned on 20 February 2024. The Speaker notified the President the same day.
By this proclamation the President ordered new elections for both constituencies. The nomination court was fixed for Tuesday 26 March 2024, sitting from 10 o'clock in the morning at the Magistrates Court, Rotten Row, Harare, to receive nominations of candidates for the National Assembly seats.
Polling was fixed for Saturday 27 April 2024, if a poll became necessary — that is, if more than one candidate was validly nominated in a constituency.
The proclamation is made under section 129(1)(b) of the Constitution, which deals with vacation of seats, and section 39(2) of the Electoral Act, which requires the President to call a fresh election once notified of a vacancy, following the general election procedure with the necessary changes.
A printing note: the running head on the gazette page reads "S.I. 38A of 2024" although the instrument is numbered 37A of 2024.
What changed
- New elections ordered for the Harare East and Mount Pleasant National Assembly constituencies
- Nomination court fixed for Tuesday 26 March 2024 at 10am at the Magistrates Court, Rotten Row, Harare
- Polling day fixed for Saturday 27 April 2024 if a poll becomes necessary
Who this affects
- registered voters in Harare East and Mount Pleasant constituencies
- political parties and prospective candidates for the two seats
- the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the nomination court
- polling officers and observers in Harare
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.