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Ruling party wins ALL 16 by-elections
Temba Dube and Kamangeni Phiri Chronicle Reporters
ZANU-PF romped to another crushing election victory, sweeping all 16 constituencies in the June 10 by-elections held in six provinces in the country.
Following the emphatic 2013 harmonised election victory that heralded the implosion of the opposition MDCs, the ruling party underlined its popularity in Wednesday’s election with huge victory margins in a majority of the contested seats.
While the MDCs continued to careen towards their path of self destruction by ill advisedly boycotting the election, Zanu-PF increased its parliamentary majority to 176 out of the 210 elected seats in the House of Assembly.
Making a mockery of MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s call for Zimbabweans to boycott the polls, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo regained his Tsholotsho North seat accounting for 98,9 percent of the valid votes.
He was the biggest winner in all 16 constituencies.
Prof Moyo’s massive tally of 11,695 votes meant the other two candidates, MDC proxies Busani Ncube and Gertrude Sibanda shared the remaining 1,1 percent with Ncube getting 91 votes and Sibanda 38.
In Bulawayo, residents showed their dissatisfaction with the MDC-T that has not developed the city in any way in its 15-year spell of winning all seats in the city by resoundingly electing Zanu-PF candidates in all five constituencies.
The victory meant the party would have the first directly elected legislators in the city since 2000.
In the Pumula constituency, Cde Godfrey Malaba Ncube shrugged off feeble competition from seven other candidates to garner 2,477 votes against 777 for Zapu’s second placed Michael Bathandi Mpofu.
Former MDC-T Bulawayo’s organising secretary Albert Mhlanga— who ran as an independent candidate— was a distant third with 134 votes.
Mhlanga lost the seat when his party kicked him out of parliament for joining the MDC Renewal Team.
Other independents, Misheck Ncube Zakhele Mpofu and Morrison Maluso polled 89,133 and 73 votes while 23 people voted for the NCA’s Jackson Lunga and 24 for Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu of Transform Zimbabwe.
An elated Cde Malaba said he was always confident of victory because the people of Bulawayo had finally realised that the MDCs had nothing to offer. He said Zanu-PF was ready to offer Bulawayo and Pumula residents the service they had been denied for 15 years after voting for the MDC.
He said Zanu-PF would soon unveil a Pumula Development association that would work to alleviate poverty and revamp crumbling infrastructure in the constituency.
Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube landed the Makokoba seat after failing in two previous elections. He polled 1,667 votes while his nearest rival, independent Sibangilizwe Msipa polled 265 votes and another independent Toan Dlodlo garnered 31 votes. Jonathan Ndlovu of Zapu got 164 votes, Marbel Ngwenya of NCA had two votes, Sehlelo Nkomo (TZ) 24 votes and Wilson Harry Peter MKD had 21 votes.
Yesterday, Cde Dube held a mini rally at Efusini Shopping Centre in Makokoba to celebrate the victory.
Dube won the seat that became vacant after the ejection from Parliament of Makokoba legislator Gorden Moyo in April this year.
The rally was attended by Politburo member Cde Joshua Malinga, Minister of State for Bulawayo province Cde Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, central committee member Canisia Sathiya, Angeline Masuku and other Zanu-PF provincial members.
Cde Dube thanked the people of Makokoba for voting him into Parliament and vowed to work hard to improve their lives.
The main victory celebrations are set for Stanley Square tomorrow.
In Luveve, Cde Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo (Zanu-PF) claimed 1,765 votes against Nyamambi Amon Dube (Zapu) who polled 562 votes while Mkhululi Nyathi (independent) got 522 votes, Thubelihle Sibanda (independent) 199, Fanuel Tshuma (Transform Zimbabwe) 35 votes, Morgan Ntuli (NCA) 28 votes and Willias Dube (independent) 120 votes.
Cde Mlilo said the victory marked Bulawayo’s second independence.
He said the first was from colonial tyranny while the second was from MDC-T that never did anything for the city’s development.
“This is quite a milestone and as a party, we are on a drive to develop the constituency and improve the lives of many,” said Cde Mlilo.
Zanu PF’s Cde Maidei Mpala blew away competition for the Lobengula seat with 1,976 votes followed by Casper Sibanda (Zapu) with 492 votes. Former MDC-T MP Njabuliso Mguni, who was standing as an independent candidate, only managed to entice 301 people to vote for him and Jane Mbewe (FFP) got 51 votes. The seat was previously held by former MDC-T council of elders member Samuel Sipepa Nkomo.
In Mpopoma, Zanu-PF’s Joseph Tshuma cruised to victory with 2,050 votes.
Strike Mkandla (Zapu) polled 726 votes, George Mkwena (independent) had 109 votes Andrea Banda (TZ) polled a paltry 67 votes, Sokhaya Mabhena (NCA) got a measly 14 votes while Vusumuzi Mabhikwa only had 61 votes. Zanu-PF’s secretary for administration in Bulawayo, Cde Nacisio Makhulumo, said the victories were stepping stones to wider victory margins in 2018.
He said the leadership of President Mugabe continued to propel the party and the country on an upward trajectory of achievement and prosperity. “The President has inspired us to work harder to ensure we quadruple or even multiply the numbers seven-fold in 2018,” said Cde Makhulumo.
Elsewhere, Zanu-PF’s Cde Terence Mukupe won the Harare East parliamentary by-election with a massive 4,605 votes out of a total of 5,618 votes cast.
Cde Mukupe beat Dore Dale of Transform Zimbabwe who got 681 votes followed by Kuveya Farai (Independent) who polled 135 votes and Misheck Zacharia Mushawatu who got 115 votes. The total number of rejected votes was 115.
All other contesting candidates were conspicuous by their absence during the announcement of the result by the constituency elections officer.
In Dzivarasekwa Cde Omega Hungwe of Zanu-PF won with 3,116 votes followed by independent candidates Saul Tore (253) and Tonderai Karimakwenda (239).
Cosmas Benjamin of little-known Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe had 38 votes, Ngonidzashe Chandiwana of Transform Zimbabwe (178), Happison Chikova of African Democratic Party had 44 votes, Washington Measure (DARE) 16, Enock Mafigu of Mavambo Kusile Dawn (31 votes) and Peter Mukuchamano (NCA) got 28 votes.
In Kuwadzana, Cde Betty Nhambu of Zanu-PF polled 3,480, Ephraim Muza (DARE) 38, Peter Svinurai (Free Zim Congress) 142, Grant Tabvurei (NCA) 46, Michael Mandikonza (Freedom Front Party) 10, Joelson Mugari (African Democratic Party) 29, Endai Mugomeza (Independent) 222, Simon Musandu (Transform Zimbabwe) 26, Boniface Gwishiri (Independent) 113, Joseph Chimbawanga (Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe) 30, Gemellah Chuma (PIMZ) 41 and Milton Mukuwa (Mavambo Kusile Dawn) 32.
Zanu-PF’s Cde Tinashe Maduza won the Kambuzuma seat after amassing 2,712 votes while Rungerai Tapoka of Freedom Front Party got 14. Obey Chiwara of Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn polled 50, Nyasha Solomon Makwati of Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe got 231, John Elfigio Muzhazhe of Transform Zimbabwe got 31 and Tapera David Mabuwa, (independent) got 51.
Other contestants were Pedzisayi Nheta (Independent) 158 votes, Taungana Madhino (Independent) 65 and Tendai Morris Makoni (Independent) 153.
Psychology Maziwisa has been declared winner of the Highfield West Constituency seat with 2,254 votes. Independent candidate, Emmanuel Dzumbunu polled 230 votes while Kudakwashe Makuwe (TZ) polled 146 votes. Brian Shamu (Dare) had 56 votes, Pswarayi Tashinga (Independent) 52 votes, Kudzai Saruwaka (Mavambo) 48 votes, Onita Muchena (PMZ) 29 votes, Godfrey Jena (PDZ) 27 votes and Shadreck Nyanganya (FFP) 10 votes.
Sixty-five votes were rejected.
In Hurungwe West constituency, Cde Keith Guzah romped to victory after garnering 5,961 votes against Independent candidate, Temba Mliswa who had 4,239 votes.
Mliswa was not at the constituency command centre.
Cde Esau Mupfumi polled 6,376 votes to beat seven other candidates who were also vying for the Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency seat which fell vacant following the recalling of Arnold Tsunga from the National Assembly by the MDC-T.
Tsunga had crossed the floor to join the MDC Renewal Project.
Pfugamai Mawire (Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn) polled 254 votes, Ruramayi Musiiwa (NCA) had 1,003 votes, Piwai Gashirai (Freedom Party) had 125 votes, Chengetai Richard Kadzere (Independent) polled 192 votes, James Mundenda (Independent) had 144 votes and Kuziva Maundike (Independent) registered 707 votes.
Transform Zimbabwe’s candidate, Maxwell Teedzai polled a paltry 32 votes.
In Headlands, Cde Christopher Chingosho takes over from disgraced former Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa who was expelled from the ruling party for working with the Joice Mujuru cabal that wanted to topple President Mugabe.
Cde Chingosho polled 11,104 votes against his nearest rival, Independent candidate, Albert Mukaratirwa who had 897 votes. David Mukunda of the NCA had 117 votes.
Cde Chingosho vowed to use his experience in Government to come up with income generating projects.
Before his election, Cde Chingosho was a principal director in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Manicaland provincial elections officer, Moffat Masabeya expressed satisfaction at the electoral process.
THE revolutionary party won the Mbizo Constituency seat in Kwekwe which had been in the hands of MDC-T since 2008.
Mbizo Constituency Election Officer, Petronela Dube said Cde Vongaishe Mupereri of Zanu-PF polled 4,269 votes against his closest rival Onismo Zvavairo, an independent candidate who got 2,489 votes.
Transform Zimbabwe’s Innocent Madziva garnered 87 votes.
Dube said 6,955 people cast their votes while 110 of the ballots were spoilt.
An elated Cde Mupereri said he would continue working for the development of Mbizo Constituency as he has been doing before the election.
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Cde Oppah Muchinguri has already pledged a beast for Cde Mupereri’s victory party.
Online Reporter