derick.khumalo
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
THE ruling ZANU PF party has emerged victorious in a clean sweep of the by-elections held in Victoria Falls on Saturday, winning all three contested municipal wards.
The party’s candidates decisively defeated a field of independent candidates in Wards 9, 10, and 11, securing their place on the Victoria Falls Municipal Council.
In Ward 9, Tapiwa Kwendu Sibanda of ZANU PF was declared the winner after amassing 287 votes, comfortably defeating independent candidates Mathe Simbarashe who polled 150 votes, Vusumuzi Sibanda with 115 votes, and Liberty Mudenda who got 22 votes.
The victory was equally emphatic in Ward 10, where ZANU PF candidate Thindolie Sibanda secured 291 votes to beat eight independent candidates, with his closest rival, Nakayiso Sibindi, managing 174 votes.
The Ward 11 contest saw George Mhlanga of ZANU PF win with 736 votes, far ahead of independent challengers Daniel Moyo who got 211 votes, Sisaulu Mhanda and Mqondisi Ndlovu who polled 42 votes each, Francis Mubwe with 19 votes, and Comfort Maseko who garnered 8 votes.
The by-elections were necessitated by the recall of the former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors for the three wards .
The results represent a significant political victory for the ruling party, which conducted an intensive campaign in the resort city in the lead-up to the polls .
The elections saw a moderate turnout, with Ward 11 recording 427 votes by midday and Ward 10 following with 293, while Ward 9 had 229 ballots cast by the same time .
In addition to the victories in Victoria Falls, ZANU PF also won the by-election for Ward 3 of Mutare Municipality, consolidating its position in the local authority.
The party had also taken an early lead in the by-elections for Ward 21 of Mazowe Rural District Council and Ward 12 of Mudzi Rural District Council, as Chizinga Brighton and Simpu Stanley were duly elected unopposed after no other nomination papers were received at the close of the nomination courts.
The wins across all the by-elections further cement ZANU PF’s electoral dominance in both urban and rural councils.
