The ruling ZANU-PF party is celebrating resounding victories in recent by-elections, successfully filling the parliamentary seats left vacant by the recalls of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs orchestrated by Sengezo Tshabangu.
ZANU-PF secured decisive wins in several key constituencies, including an uncontested victory in Mabvuku-Tafara and triumphs in Binga North, Bulawayo South, Beitbridge West, Lupane East, Cowdray Park, and Nketa. In stark contrast, Tshabangu’s CCC party only managed to secure two wins, in Lobengula Magwegwe and Mpopoma Mzilikazi, according to official results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
This outcome marks a significant development in Zimbabwe’s political landscape, highlighting the strengthening of ZANU-PF’s position and raising questions about the future of the opposition CCC party.
Meanwhile, Tshabangu’s CCC party only managed to secure wins in Lobengula Magwegwe and Mpopoma Mzilikazi, according to the official results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
In the Cowdray Park Constituency, Mujeyi Arthur of ZANU PF won with 1,765 votes, defeating Vusimuzi Chirwa of CCC who received 1,560 votes. The voter turnout in Cowdray Park was low, with less than 4,000 people casting their votes out of over 20,000 registered voters.
In the Nketa Constituency by-elections, Albert Mavunga from ZANU PF received 1550 votes, Ambrose Sibindi from CCC received 1439 votes, and Luckmore Gwetu from DOP received 177 votes. As a result, Albert Mavunga from ZANU PF has been elected as the Member of Parliament for the Nketa constituency.
Rajeshkumari Modi of ZANU PF won in the Bulawayo South Constituency with 1,608 votes, surpassing Sithole James of CCC who received 1,130 votes. The voter turnout in this constituency was also very low.
In Beitbridge West, Thusani Ndou of ZANU PF was duly elected as the Member of Parliament with 4,929 votes.
In Lobengula Magwegwe, Tendayi Chitura of CCC won with 1,648 votes, defeating Dube Menziwa of ZANU PF who received 1,318 votes.
Phathisiwe Machangu of ZANU PF emerged victorious in the Lupane East by-election with 6,863 votes, defeating David Nyathi of CCC who received 1,750 votes.
ZANU PF candidate, Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya, was declared the winner in the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency. This was after the High Court barred Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, a CCC contestant, from running. Kufahakutizwi had been recalled by the CCC and the court ruled that he was unable to represent the party in the by-elections without the approval of the recalling authority.
Charles Moyo from the CCC party won the Mpopoma-Mzilikazi National Assembly seat. He received 1,632 votes, defeating Kamamba Dzinga from ZANU PF who got 1,097 votes. Blessings Sibanda from DOP received 47 votes, and Pardon Tapfumaneyi, an independent candidate, received 654 votes.
Donaldson Mabutho, former Deputy Mayor of Bulawayo, won the Ward 9 council seat in the by-election, defeating ZANU PF’s Lovemore Munyamana.
