Why Zanu PF won Glen View South seat

Joseph Madzimure-Zimpapers Politics Hub

THE Second Republic’s deliverables carried the day for ZANU PF, allowing it to reclaim Glen View South constituency in the recently held by-election, where its candidate, Cde Tsitsi Tawomhera, romped to victory.

In its campaign messages, the ruling party told voters that the ZANU PF Government was taking the lead in infrastructure development in cities, including refurbishing roads after years of neglect by opposition-led councils.

Under its Urban Renewal Initiative, the ruling party has demonstrated the capacity to solve problems by refurbishing roads in urban areas and drilling Presidential boreholes to ease water challenges.

A number of houses are now connected to solar power, in addition to receiving electricity from the national grid.

Any opposition member interpreting the by-election results as a fluke is being insincere, as the failure by the opposition to manage councils is no longer a subject of debate.

Uncollected garbage, potholed roads, and outbreaks of cholera and dysentery are all consequences of mismanagement and incompetence.

It’s clear urbanites are becoming disillusioned by the never-ending feuds within the opposition, which have negatively affected service delivery.

In an interview, an elated ZANU PF Harare provincial chairperson, Cde Godwills Masimirembwa, said the major factor behind the party’s victory in Glen View South constituency is the developmental trajectory taking place under the Second Republic.

Under the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, he said President Mnangagwa is spearheading development programmes across all areas.

“What this means for urban constituencies is that President Mnangagwa, through the Government, has intervened in developing areas where local authorities have failed, either through neglect or, most importantly, through corruption, as in the case of Harare, Chitungwiza municipalities, and Epworth Local Board.

“So what we have seen is that the Government is now servicing roads that are meant to be serviced by local authorities. The Emergency Roads Rehabilitation Programme is actually impacting roads which are the responsibility of local authorities,” he stated.

The Government has also taken over refuse collection, with Geo Pomona Waste Management stepping in to perform work that should have been done by the council.

Cde Masimirembwa highlighted that all these efforts are meant to mitigate the inefficiencies and neglect by the local authority.

“We have also seen the Government intervening concerning water supply and energy provision. If you look at Glen View as a whole, there is a pilot project underway for ‘renting a roof,’ where solar panels are installed on rooftops. Under this platform, the property owner receives rental income and free electricity.

“We have also seen a massive Presidential Borehole Programme, where solarised boreholes are distributing water directly to households. One borehole is serving at least 25 to 30 households, connected directly to taps. So, people no longer congregate at borehole stations but receive water directly in their homes,” he said.

Cde Masimirembwa said President Mnangagwa has walked the talk in his pro-development mantra.

“He has walked the talk in maintaining unity, peace, and development in our country. People in urban areas have now begun to warm up to the Second Republic. They’ve begun to warm up to the President,” he said.

The results reflect a consistent pattern in the by-elections held so far, where ZANU PF has wrested seats from the opposition. It appears the opposition tends to lose its sense of unity and direction once elections are over.

The recent by-election victory in Glen View South has once again proved beyond doubt that political parties, the world over, are sustained by organisational capacity, ideological clarity, and a consistent political message.

The ruling party now holds eight seats in Harare and enjoys a commanding two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. Running a campaign focused on community development, service delivery, and inclusive representation, the ZANU PF strategy struck a powerful chord with voters seeking committed and responsive leadership.

The message of inclusivity, progress, and empowerment appealed to a broad cross-section of the electorate, particularly the youth and women, who have increasingly become pivotal in shaping the country’s political direction.

The latest victory has cemented ZANU PF’s inroads into what were previously opposition strongholds. This success is due to the Second Republic’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of the general public under the mantra “leaving no one and no place behind.”

The opposition’s mismanagement of urban councils has plunged residents into worsening poverty due to corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of patriotic leadership.

Under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa, the ruling party is reclaiming urban spaces to restore service delivery, economic growth, and sustainable development.