Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka, [email protected]
WHEN voters in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province, head to the polls on June 20 to elect councillors for Wards 1, 10 and 21, they will be doing far more than filling vacancies created by the dismissal of former councillors.
The by-elections have evolved into a crucial political test of confidence in President Mnangagwa’s development philosophy, the effectiveness of grassroots governance and the growing influence of the Second Republic’s rural transformation agenda.
For Zanu-PF, the objective is straightforward: retain Ward 10 and reclaim Wards 1 and 21, which were previously won by opposition candidates.
Yet beneath that electoral arithmetic lies a much bigger political story.
The Tsholotsho by-elections come at a time when the ruling party has maintained a strong record in recent by-elections across the country, often converting them into endorsements of Government-led development programmes.
A victory in all three wards would not only strengthen Zanu-PF’s dominance in Matabeleland North but would also reinforce the growing perception that rural voters are increasingly aligning themselves with development-centred politics.
Unlike in previous years, where electoral contests were often dominated by ideological battles and political slogans, the Tsholotsho campaign has largely revolved around practical concerns affecting ordinary citizens — access to clean water, health services, roads, income-generating opportunities and economic empowerment.
These are issues that sit at the heart of President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
Over the past seven years, the Second Republic has deliberately shifted its focus towards rural industrialisation, infrastructure development and community empowerment.
Programmes such as the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme, village business units, rural electrification and irrigation development have become central pillars of the Government’s development agenda.
In many communities, these interventions have transformed livelihoods by improving access to water, increasing agricultural productivity and creating opportunities for rural entrepreneurship.
It is against this backdrop that Zanu-PF is approaching the Tsholotsho by-elections.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial secretary for administration Cde Douglas Khoza believes the party’s development message is finding fertile ground among voters.
“Campaigns are progressing well and Zanu-PF is gaining ground in the two wards previously held by CCC councillors, which are Wards 1 and 21. As for Ward 10, Zanu-PF is assured of returning the ward because it is in a Zanu-PF constituency under the stewardship of Cde Musa Ncube, who is also the
Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities,” he said.
His remarks reflect a growing confidence within the ruling party that voters are increasingly evaluating political parties through the lens of service delivery and development outcomes.
Indeed, one of the most significant dynamics emerging from the campaign is the apparent comparison being made by residents between areas benefiting from Government development programmes and those represented by opposition councillors.
According to Cde Khoza, many voters in the opposition-held wards believe they missed an opportunity to align themselves with the broader development agenda being championed by the Second Republic.
“The other two wards are in Tsholotsho North, which were won by the opposition. The people there have seen and heard the developmental differences between the two constituencies and have promised to correct the outcome of the last general elections,” he said.
Whether that sentiment translates into votes remains to be seen, but politically it highlights the increasing importance of development as a campaign issue in rural Zimbabwe.
The concerns being raised by the masses are neither new nor unique to Tsholotsho.
Long distances to health facilities, water shortages and limited economic opportunities have historically been among the major challenges facing many rural communities.
What is different today is the extent to which Government programmes are being presented as practical solutions to those challenges.
“People are raising basic socio-economic developmental issues like long distances to clinics, water challenges and household income-generating projects.
“The answer comes from the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme and the establishment of village business units at every drilled borehole through the solarisation of these boreholes in each village,” said Cde Khoza.
The significance of such programmes extends beyond immediate service delivery.
They represent a broader strategy aimed at transforming rural communities from centres of subsistence into hubs of production and economic activity. Village business units, for example, are designed to create sustainable income streams while strengthening food security at household level.
For Tsholotsho, a district that has historically grappled with recurring droughts and water shortages, such interventions have particular relevance.
Political observers note that by-elections often serve as barometers of public confidence in governing parties.
While general elections determine national leadership, by-elections frequently provide insight into
whether communities believe elected representatives are delivering on promises.
In Tsholotsho, that question has acquired added significance because the vacancies arose following the dismissal of councillors after investigations into allegations that included the abuse of Campfire funds and other offences.
As a result, the by-elections are also about accountability and restoring public trust in local governance structures.
For Zanu-PF, winning all three wards would therefore carry both symbolic and practical significance.
This would reinforce the party’s narrative that the Second Republic’s development agenda continues to enjoy broad support at grassroots level.
It will also strengthen the alignment between local leadership and national development programmes, potentially accelerating the implementation of projects in affected communities.
President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of inclusive development has become one of the defining features of the Second Republic.
Under this approach, development is no longer viewed as an urban phenomenon but as a process that must reach every district, ward and village.
Cde Khoza believes this message continues to resonate strongly with rural communities.
“The message to Tsholotsho is simple — stretch out your hands and embrace the developmental agenda and philosophy of His Excellency President Dr ED Mnangagwa of leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.
“Matabeleland North is no longer the same under the Second Republic. It has become a leader in national economic capital projects that have improved the socio-economic status of our communities since independence.”
His comments point to a broader political reality. Across Matabeleland North, major infrastructure and economic projects are increasingly shaping public discourse.
Communities are judging political leadership not merely on promises but on visible development outcomes.
As polling day approaches, the Tsholotsho RDC by-elections are emerging as a contest between competing visions of local governance.
At the centre of that contest is the question of who is best positioned to champion development and connect communities to the opportunities being created under the Second Republic.
Should Zanu-PF retain Ward 10 and successfully capture Wards 1 and 21, it would not simply add three seats to the party’s tally.
It would strengthen the ruling party’s grassroots structures, consolidate its influence in Matabeleland North and further validate President Mnangagwa’s rural development agenda.
For voters in Tsholotsho, the choice is ultimately about representation.
For Zanu-PF, however, the by-elections represent something bigger — an opportunity to secure a mandate for continued grassroots development and demonstrate that the politics of delivery remains a powerful force in Zimbabwe’s rural landscape.
