allAfrica.com
By Jerry Chifamba
In the country's election on August 23, Elisabeth Valerio, the United Zimbabwe Alliance leader, will be the only woman candidate. This comes after her papers were initially rejected by the Nomination Court because they were submitted late.
The Electoral Court then allowed Valerio to contest against the 11 other candidates - all men - running for the presidency.
"I'm happy that we have been allowed to get into the presidential race. I will be the only woman presidential candidate. That's very good news for Zimbabweans, she reportedly said.
Valerio went to college in the United States and started her career as a biochemist before relocating to Hwange, where she has spent over a decade in Dete taking care of an elephant herd.
Her efforts in conservation were overshadowed in 2020 by reports that a coal mine will be built right in the middle of Hwange National Park. Together with tourism business owners and environmentalists, she sent a public letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa urging him to prohibit mining in the park. Eventually, Zimbabwe's Cabinet declared that no mining will take place inside any national parks. But shortly after the announcement, special permits to mine for coal in the vicinity of important landmarks and safari areas were issued, according to Valerio's party.
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#Zimbabwe