Zanu PF has won all contested seats in parliamentary by-elections conducted in Zimbabwe following the recalling of lawmakers linked to the Movement for Democratic Change Renewal Team by Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T.
Election results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission indicate that President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party registered a "landslide" victory though few voters cast their ballots compared to the 2013 general election, which was contested by opposition MDC formations and several others.
In cities like Harare and Bulawayo, Zanu PF won seats for the first time in years in constituencies widely regarded as MDC-T’s strongholds. The MDC-T boycotted the polls calling for broad electoral reforms.
Notable winners are Keith Guzah in the hotly contested Hurungwe West constituency where he garnered 5,997 compared to his bitter rival, Temba Mliswa, who got 4,255. Mliswa was kicked out of Zanu PF for allegedly teaming up with deposed former Vice President Joice Mujuru and several other party officials to topple President Mugabe before the 2014 Zanu PF elective congress.
Mrs. Mujuru and her colleagues have denied any wrong doing saying this move is part of the complex succession battles to takeover the leadership of the party from the ageing President Mugabe.
In Tsholotsho constituency, Professor Prof Jonathan Moyo won by 11,695 votes followed by Busani Ncube with 91 and Getrude Sibanda (38).
Zanu PF recorded its first win in Bulawayo in 15 years winning all five constituencies in yesterday's by elections. Although the five constituencies have over 100,000 registered voters, Zanu PF only got a total of 11,450 in all the constituencies.
The highest vote went to Tshinga Dube who got 3,182 votes in Makokoba followed by Sibangilizwe Msipa, an independent, with 473.
In Harare East, Terrence Mukupe amassed 4,605 votes in a constituency where there were only 5,618 ballots vast.
Zanu PF swept to victory in other constituencies in elections that have been criticized by observers like the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, which says there is need to revamp the voting process in order to democratize it.
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