Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka-Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZANU PF has swept all three contested wards in the Tsholotsho Rural District Council by-elections held on Saturday.
The ruling party retained Ward 10 and wrested Wards 1 and 21 from opposition control, underlining its growing political influence in Matabeleland North and the increasing appeal of Government programmes anchored on the philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
Results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) showed that ZANU PF candidate Cde Simbisai Ndlovu won Ward 10 with 802 votes, defeating ZAPU candidate Mr Mchlukanisi Washington Ncube, who polled 183 votes and independent candidate Mr Thando Siziba, who garnered 67 votes.
In Ward 21, Cde Phillip Mvundla secured victory with 512 votes against independent candidate Mr Marx Sibanda’s 236 votes, while in Ward 1, Cde Lindiwe Mkwananzi triumphed after polling 471 votes against independent candidate Mr Solani Mlilo’s 251 votes.
The by-elections were necessitated by the dismissal of councillors following an independent tribunal investigation into allegations of criminal abuse of office, fraud and the abuse of Campfire funds.
Reacting to the outcome, ZANU PF Political Commissar Cde Munyaradzi Machacha described the results as a clear endorsement of President Mnangagwa’s leadership and the developmental gains being realised under the Second Republic.
“It is a clear sign of the confidence that the people continue to have in ZANU PF, a confidence built on the massive infrastructural development, reconstruction projects and ongoing economic recovery being spearheaded by the Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.
“The people of Tsholotsho, like many Zimbabweans across the country, are witnessing and benefiting from tangible development projects that are transforming their communities and improving livelihoods.
“As a result, they have once again demonstrated their trust in the ruling party and its vision for national development,” said Cde Machacha.
He said the clean sweep was evidence that communities were increasingly aligning themselves with the ruling party because of the visible impact of Government programmes on their daily lives.
“The results of these by-elections are a clear indication that the people have unwavering confidence in President Mnangagwa’s leadership and his people-centred development agenda.
“We want to sincerely thank the people of Tsholotsho for voting resoundingly for ZANU PF and for reaffirming their support for the party’s programmes and policies,” he said.
Cde Machacha also paid tribute to the party’s Matabeleland North leadership for maintaining unity and mobilising support at grassroots level.
“We also commend the party’s leadership in Matabeleland North for remaining united and focused on mobilising support at grassroots level. The sweeping victory in all three wards is testament to the growing confidence that communities have in the developmental trajectory of the Second Republic,” he said.
He added that President Mnangagwa’s focus on infrastructure rehabilitation, road construction, improved social services and empowerment initiatives had played a pivotal role in strengthening support for the ruling party across the province.
Notably, prior to the polls, ZANU.PF Matabeleland North provincial secretary for administration, Cde Douglas Khoza, had expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in all the contested wards.
Following the results, his assessment appeared vindicated.
“ZANU PF gained ground in the two wards previously held by CCC councillors, which are Ward 1 and Ward 21.
“As for Ward 10, ZANU PF is assured of retaininh the ward because it is in a ZANU PF constituency under the stewardship of Cde Musa Ncube, who is also the Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities,” said Cde Khoza.
He said residents in the opposition-held wards had increasingly embraced ZANU PF after witnessing the developmental progress being achieved under the Second Republic.
“The other two wards are in Tsholotsho North, which were won by the opposition.
“The people there have seen and heard the developmental differences between the two constituencies and have promised to correct the outcome of the last general elections,” he said.
Cde Khoza added that communities were responding positively to Government interventions aimed at addressing long-standing developmental challenges.
“People are raising basic socio-economic developmental issues like long distances to clinics, water challenges and household income-generating projects.
“The answer comes from the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme and the establishment of village business units at every drilled borehole through the solarisation of these boreholes in each village,” he said.
He also said that President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind continued to resonate strongly with rural communities across Matabeleland North.
A jubilant Cde Ndlovu attributed her landslide victory to the confidence voters have in the ruling party’s development agenda.
“This overwhelming support is a result of the tangible development projects being implemented in the ward, which have strengthened people’s confidence in the ruling party and its leadership.
“The electorate can see the positive changes taking place in their communities, and they have responded by voting for development,” she said.
Cde Ndlovu also thanked the people of Ward 10, the party leadership in Matabeleland North and party structures that worked tirelessly during the campaign period.
“I also want to thank the people of Ward 10 for voting overwhelmingly for ZANU PF and for placing their trust in us. Furthermore, I extend my gratitude to the entire Matabeleland North leadership for their unwavering support throughout the campaign period.”
Echoing the sentiments of victory, Ward 1 winner Cde Mkwananzi and Ward 21’s Cde Mvundla jointly hailed President Mnangagwa’s inclusive development philosophy, saying communities were increasingly identifying with Government programmes because of their tangible impact on people’s lives.
The two candidates said the ruling party’s clean sweep reflected growing public appreciation of development initiatives being implemented under the Second Republic and reaffirmed the electorate’s trust in ZANU PF’s vision for socio-economic transformation.
The outcome of the Tsholotsho RDC by-elections is likely to strengthen ZANU PF’s position in Matabeleland North ahead of future electoral contests, while reinforcing the political significance of President Mnangagwa’s development-centred governance model in shaping voter preferences across rural Zimbabwe.
