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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Zanu-PF has won the Chegutu Rural District Council ward 11 by-election held at the weekend, with its candidate Cde Taurai Sengu securing 1 103 votes against 45 for MDC-T’s Didlane Walaza.
The revolutionary party’s victory means it now has 1 501 wards countrywide against MDC-T’s 442.
The by-election followed the death of Ward 11 Councillor Cde Nickson Mubatapasango, who was declared a provincial hero and buried at the Chinhoyi Heroes’ Acre early this year.
The victory by Zanu-PF seemed to have unsettled Chegutu West constituency losing MDC-T candidate in the July 31 2013 election, Mr Chalton Hwende, who claimed the election was rigged.
Mr Hwende, an MDC-T national executive member, posted pictures of kombis on his Facebook wall claiming they were used to ferry voters to polling stations.
Commenting on Zanu-PF’s election victory, Chegutu East constituency Member of Parliament and Zanu PF national political commissar Cde Webster Shamu said it was an endorsement of the policies of the revolutionary party.
“The result is a reflection of the ever-growing support of the revolutionary party. It shows that Zanu-PF policies are people-oriented,” said Cde Shamu, who is Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services.
Last month Zanu-PF ‘s candidate in Makonde Rural District Council, Cde Enock Gurumba, won the Ward 8 by-election uncontested, after the fractious MDC and other opposition parties failed to field candidates at the close of the Nomination Court.
The Nomination Court sat at Lions Den, Chinhoyi, to consider candidates to fill the seat left vacant following the death of Cde Portia Mushamiri.
Zanu-PF retained the seat, which it won uncontested on July 31, 2013 after other parties again failed to nominate candidates.
The main opposition MDC-T is in turmoil following the internecine fight for control of the party characterised by factions pitting the pro-Tsvangirai camp and others agitating for leadership renewal. Earlier this month, Zanu-PF romped to victory in the Mkoba Ward 12 council by-election in Gweru after its candidate, Cde Charles Simbi, defeated MDC-T and NCA candidates.
Cde Simbi garnered 556 votes while his bitter rival Mr Fortunate Chiokori of MDC-T got 486 votes and Mr Richard Ndlovu of NCA polled 64 votes.
Online Reporter