Susan Matsunga
Susan Matsunga is a Zimbabwean politician and a member of the MDC Alliance.
Personal Details
Born: 28 August 1979. [1]
School / Education
Primary education: Tendai school
Secondary education: Completed her Ordinary Level studies at Mufakose 4 Secondary School. [1]
Service/Career
Susan Matsunga was not elected to Parliament as part of the 60 seconded legislators under the Proportional Representation (PR), a system that was birthed by the 2013 Zimbabwe Constitution. [2]
(ZEC results indicate she was not elected).
Women
Sixty seats were allocated to women in 2013. They were divided into 6 per province, based on a party's share of votes in the province. The parties produced lists of candidates before the elections. Successful candidates are listed in bold. Only parties which had successful candidates are listed. Vote counts for these seats may vary slightly from the official provincial vote totals due to some multiple candidates votes.
In 2018 she competed in the elections and polled 9 987 votes against her closest rival Duni Derera of Zanu PF who had 2 425. [1]
Events
MDC
She went to South Africa soon after finishing her secondary education and later came back to join the MDC party in 2000 as a youth.
In 2000 she was voted MDC youth secretary for Mufakose district. In 2009 she was voted the Harare province youth secretary for gender. At the 2014 MDC congress she was appointed secretary for defence and security at the party’s national women’s assembly by the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
In 2019 she was appointed a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) by Nelson Chamisa. [1]
Recall From Parliament
In October 2020, Matsunga was one of the ten legislators expelled from Parliament after the MDC-T wrote to the House saying they were no longer representing it. At the time of the recall, Matsunga was the Member of Parliament for Mufakose. The recalling of MPs voted as MDC Alliance candidates followed a Supreme Court ruling in April 2020 conferring legitimacy to Dr Thokozani Khupe as the leader of the MDC-T.
The other MPs that were recalled together with Matsunga were Eric Murai of Highfield East, Wellington Chikombo of Glen Norah, Earthrage Kureva of Epworth, Dorcas Sibanda of Proportional Representation Bulawayo, Caston Matewu of Marondera Central, Lynette Karenyi of PR Manicaland, Concilia Chinanzvavana of PR Mashonaland West, Prince Dubeko Sibanda of Binga North and Unganai Tarusenga of St Mary’s. [3]
Before her recall from Parliament, Matsunga was in the Energy committee, chaired by Binga MP Joel Gabuza. She was also in the Mines committee, chaired by Edmund Mukaratigwa of Shurugwi South.[1]
In the Zimbabwe By-elections (March 2022), Susan Matsunga of CCC won 4039 votes to win the Mufakose parliament seat. [4]
In the 2022 By-Elections, (see Zimbabwe By-elections (March_2022)) Mufakose returned to Parliament:
- Susan Matsunga of Citizens' Coalition For Change with 4 039 votes,
- Melvin Taurai Marembo of Zanu-PF with 1 128 votes,
- Rodwell Shambamuto of MDC Alliance with 218 votes.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 BRENNA MATENDERE, I am made of thick skin: Matsunga, NewsDay, Published: July 15, 2019, Retrieved: May 7, 2021
- ↑ Using Her Voice_ The story of “Honourable” Susan Matsunga, Women Empowered for Leadership, Published: August 6, 2019, Retrieved: May 7, 2021
- ↑ Zvamaida Murwira, JUST IN: 10 MDC-T MPs expelled, The Herald, Published: October 1, 2020, Retrieved: May 7, 2021
- ↑ National assembly & Council By-election results, ZBC News, Published: March 2022, Retrieved: March 2022
