adminHerald Reporter
ZANU-PF has consolidated its dominance in local government countrywide after it won the Gokwe South Rural District Ward 11 by-election held last Saturday, increasing its haul to 1 497 wards. This is in sharp contrast to its main rival, MDC-T, which won the Victoria Falls Ward 9 by-election on the same date, but only managed to increase its share to a paltry 443 wards.
There was a high voter turnout in Gokwe, where Zanu-PF candidate Cde Jonias Kutonho won by a wide margin after he received 1 243 votes, compared to MDC-T’s Victor Nsingo who got 340 votes and MDC candidate Mike Pawarikanda who managed only 42 votes.
In Victoria Falls’ Ward 9, the margin between Smoveli Dhlamini of MDC-T and Zanu-PF candidate Sambulo Mpofu was only 32 votes, which shows the ruling party’s support base remains intact despite the loss.
Mr Dhlamini managed 238 votes compared to Cde Mpofu who received 206 votes, while MDC candidate Atient Ncube had 66 votes and Willard Phiri of Zapu managed only six votes.
The by-elections were held after no candidate expressed interest in the wards for the harmonised elections held on July 31.
In September, Zanu-PF won council run-off elections in Manicaland, Matabeleland North and Mashonaland West provinces.
The Zanu-PF haul translated to over 76 percent dominance of the country’s 92 local authorities that consist of 1 958 wards.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission called for run-off elections in Mutasa Rural Council (Manicaland), Kadoma Municipality Ward 4 (Mashonaland West) and Kusile Rural District Council Ward 4 (Matabeleland South) after equal votes were declared in the July 31 harmonised elections.
Zanu-PF dominated MDC-T in the July 31 harmonised elections in both the presidential and parliamentary polls, with the revolutionary party achieving two-thirds majority in Parliament, which is crucial to amend the Constitution if need arises.
Online Reporter