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George Maponga in Masvingo
Zanu PF has once again showed that it was an indomitable political force in Masvingo after sweeping the majority of the 242 local authority wards that were up for grabs across the province in the August 2023 harmonised elections.
The ruling party won 210 wards in Masvingo province with the opposition CCC bagging 31 wards while a solitary ward under Masvingo Rural District Council went to an independent candidate, according to results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
This huge win in council elections comes after the ruling party also got a huge chunk of the proportional representation and provincial council seats in Masvingo due to the party’s overall solid performance in the just-ended plebiscite.
Zanu PF also prevailed other parties in the race for the National Assembly after winning 23 out of the 25 seats in Masvingo that were up for grabs. The opposition CCC won Chiredzi Central and Masvingo Urban seats while Gutu West was not contested following postponement of the election in the constituency that was occasioned by the death of Mr Christopher Mutonho, an independent candidate.
In the race for the presidency, President Mnangagwa, the ruling party’s candidate, also emerged victorious after prevailing over opposition leader and closest nemesis, Mr Nelson Chamisa and other candidates.
The ruling party leadership in Masvingo hailed the big win in the just-ended harmonised elections saying it was a seal of approval on the sound state of Zanu PF in the province.
Party provincial chair Cde Robson Mavhenyengwa said the solid showing by his party was affirmation that people in the province had confidence in President Mnangagwa’s leadership and the Zanu PF party.
“It was a huge win for us and we are very happy with our showing as a party in the just-ended elections because we won big in the Presidential race, National Assembly and in the wards which is confirmation that the people of Masvingo have confidence in the development trajectory being pursued by President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic,” he said.
“To us as a party this victory means our people are happy with President Mnangagwa’s vision to create an empowered and prosperous Zimbabwe by the year 2030 powered by the leaving no one and no place philosophy which has already influenced the march towards homegrown prosperity for the country and its people,” Cde Mavhenyengwa said.
He optimistically said Zanu PF would easily retain the Gutu West seat whenever a by-election would be held.
“We are ready for the by-election in Gutu West even tomorrow. We will retain the seat and push up our tally to 24 seats.
“There is not doubt that we will retain the seat,” he said.
In Gutu West constituency, Zanu PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde John Paradza had been chosen to represent the ruling party.
Cde Mavhenyengwa said the just-ended poll was further confirmation that Masvingo was a one party province which would remain a Zanu PF stronghold.
Online Reporter