Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure
Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZANU PF Central Committee member Cde Delani Moyo has won the Insiza North primary election rerun, securing a commanding 1 781 votes.
The by-election is being held following the death of Cde Farai Taruvinga, who was the Member of Parliament for the constituency since 2018.
Zanu PF Matabeleland South Youth chairman Cde Moses Langa polled 941 while Cde Qhubani Moyo came third with 676 votes.
The rerun came after the Zanu PF Politburo last week cited some irregularities during the first election round.
The initial primary election results were nullified after concerns were raised when a delegation from Harare allegedly campaigned for Cde Langa using party vehicles and 2023 presidential campaign materials, a privilege which was not extended to other candidates.
Zanu PF Matabeleland South provincial chairman Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu confirmed that Cde Delani Moyo was the party’s official candidate for Insiza North ahead of the upcoming by elections.
“We conducted a rerun of the primary elections after guidance we got from the Politburo. It was felt that the first round of the elections had not met the minimum standards expected of a free and fair internal election. What is very important is to note that as a party we take seriously our electoral processes, our democracy and where we feel that we did not do as well as we would have wanted, the Politburo always gives guidance and the rerun was conducted yesterday,” said Cde Ndlovu.
He said preliminary results were indicating that Cde Delani Moyo had won, followed by Cde Langa and number three was Cde Qhubani Moyo.
“The people identify and connect with this very well and that’s what we appreciate,” Cde Ndlovu said.
Meanwhile, the nomination court for the Gutu East parliamentary by-election will sit today at the Masvingo Magistrates Court in a development that will pave way for elections to choose a new National Assembly legislator.
The nomination court will sit from 10am to 4pm at the Masvingo magistrates court to receive papers from aspiring candidates.
The by-election will be held to fill the vacancy following the expulsion of Mr Benjamin Ganyiwa from Zanu PF.
Mr Ganyiwa was elected Gutu East National Assembly representative in the 2023 harmonised elections and his sacking from the ruling party created a vacancy.
Zanu PF last month held primary elections and chose Gutu Rural District Council Ward 14 Councillor Cde Zvarevashe Masvingise as the party’s candidate in the by-election.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Masvingo provincial officer Mr Maxwell Ncube yesterday said all was set for the sitting of the nominaton court.
“The nomination court to receive papers from candidates seeking to contest in the Gutu East parliamentary by-election will sit tomorrow (Thursday) at the Masvingo provincial court,”said Mr Ncube.
“The court will open from 10am up to 4pm when it will close.”
Zanu PF has hit the ground running and started to campaign after the election of Cde Masvingise as the by-election candidate last month. Cde Zvarevashe polled 4 837 votes to win the highly subscribed Zanu PF primary elections in Gutu East.
The ruling party has vowed to retain the seat banking on its track record as a people-centred party.
Zanu PF enjoys undisputed political dominance in Masvingo where the party won 24 out of the 26 parliamentary seats in the 2023 harmonised elections.
Peter Tanyanyiwa