Sunday, April 06, 2008

Zimbabwe News Update: Safeguard Land, Says President Mugabe; ZANU-PF Still In Control, etc.

Safeguard land, says President

Herald Reporters

PRESIDENT Mugabe says land must remain in the hands of indigenous people and urged Zimbabweans to safeguard it from the former colonisers.

His call comes in the wake of reports that some white former commercial farmers were trooping back onto farms they once owned threatening to evict black beneficiaries.

President Mugabe made the plea at Nharira in Chikomba District, Mashonaland East Province, at the burial of the First Lady’s uncle Mr Junius Takaruza Marufu yesterday.

The late Mr Marufu was a brother to Amai Mugabe’s father.

He died in his sleep on Friday morning aged 94.

Mr Marufu is survived by his wife, Mrs Taidaro Marufu, six children and several grandchildren.

Addressing mourners, Cde Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to safeguard the land, saying thousands of freedom fighters perished while others sustained permanent injuries during the liberation war fighting for the return of the land from Rhodesians.

"Ivhu iri, hongu vamwe vedu tingadai tiri mutuminda tudiki asi ngarirambe riri mumaoko edu. Ivhu nderedu ngarirege kupoya, kudzokera mumaoko emabhunu," he said.

"Nhasi uno hapasiripo patingazonzwa kuti basa irori (fight for land) radzokera kumashure."

President Mugabe described Mr Marufu as a great teacher and peacemaker and pledged to pursue his principles.

"Isu tasara tichatevedza gwara nenhoroondo ramakatisiyira. Kubatanidza vanhu tive pamwechete asi tichifamba nezvinangwa kuti ivhu iri nderedu rinofanira kuchengetedzwa nariini."

Chief Enos Musarurwa, who expressed grief at the death of Mr Marufu, described land as a national heritage and urged President Mugabe not to backtrack on the land reform programme.

He hailed Cde Mugabe for being a responsible son-in-law, saying this was evidenced by his presence at the burial of Mr Marufu.

Cde Mike Bimha, a relative, described Mr Marufu’s death as a great loss to the Bimha, Muto and Marufu families.

President Mugabe’s plea comes amid reports that some white former commercial farmers were trooping back onto their previous farms where they are allegedly threatening new black owners with eviction.

Such cases were reported in Mashonaland West Province where scores of white farmers visited Paarl, Impofu and Bougainvillea farms.

There were also reports last week that some white former commercial farmers had threatened to evict beneficiaries of the agrarian reform in Mkwasine, Hippo Valley and Triangle in Chiredzi.

Our Masvingo Bureau reports that war veterans in the province have warned white farmers in the province against engaging in any attempts to repossess redistributed land as they risked facing unspecified consequences.

Provincial war veterans’ chairman Cde Isaiah Muzenda yesterday said they would take strong action against unrepentant white farmers who were preparing to repossess their previous properties in anticipation of an MDC victory in the presidential poll.

Cde Muzenda said war vets would strongly resist such moves by the white farmers and their agents.

"We have knowledge that some white former farmers in the province are plotting to repossess land in anticipation of an MDC victory in the presidential election, but we want to tell them that the results are not yet out.

"We are also warning them of strong action if they continue to tread on that dangerous path. As war vets, we are prepared to act in defence of our land. We will take very strong action, which I will not reveal, against such actions from the unrepentant white former farmers," said Cde Muzenda.

He said that war vets and other patriotic Zimbabweans in Masvingo had since moved in to seal off certain farms in the province to resist any sinister motives by the remaining white farmers in the province.

Cde Muzenda urged other war vets throughout the country to be vigilant and prepare to guard the gains of independence if the need arises.

"We know of some places where our enemies (white ex-farmers) are but we will not mention the places, but we know where they are and what they are doing," he said.

Cde Muzenda said just like prior to the 2000 farm occupa-
tions, Masvingo war vets were again leading the way in the ongoing battle against British imperialism with the covert objective of recolonising Zimbabwe.

There have been widespread reports of white former farmers flocking back into the country, especially the Lowveld part of Masvingo, in preparation to repossessing the land they lost during the land reform programme in the event of an MDC victory.

This has caused apprehension among some newly resettled sugarcane farmers who benefited under the land reform programme.

Some of the sugarcane farmers who spoke to The Herald expressed concern over incidents involving white ex-farmers in Mkwasine, Hippo Valley and Triangle who were threatening to return to their previous plots in the hope that the opposition MDC was going to get into power.

The newly resettled farmers said the white former sugarcane farmers were allegedly camped at Malilangwe Conservancy in Chiredzi where they have been staying since last week.

Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers’ Union secretary-general Cde Admore Hwarare warned white farmers against any attempts to repossess the land in Chiredzi, saying such moves would be strongly resisted.

"Let no one fool him/herself that he will or she can repossess land in Chiredzi because we are going to resist that. The Government allocated the land to us and we have got security forces that are prepared to defend the right to our land," he said.

There were also reports of various acts of sabotage against newly resettled farmers by white commercial farmers who were opposed to the agrarian reforms.


Rally behind President

By Bridget Kufandirovi

IT is an open secret that Zanu-PF is nursing some scars and these are scars that were least expected, despite the fact that the party fought one of the most bruising battles since independence.

Now that it is likely that there will be a run-off between President Mugabe and MDC faction leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Zanu-PF has to reorient itself ideologically to ensure that this will be a battle that the people will win.

For their sakes, and the sake of future generations, this run-off should go to the people.

This is notwithstanding that the results of the run-off are already being pre-empted just like the whole election process, with accusations by the MDC Tsvangirai camp and their Western handlers that they will be rigged and flawed.

However, the opposition was only too happy to welcome and accept the Parliamentary results of an allegedly rigged election, administered by a so-called partisan electoral commission.

What are the lessons for Zanu-PF?

This writer thinks that Election 2008 was a wake-up call for the party.

Therefore as a people-oriented party they should, without wasting time, honestly look themselves in the mirror and realistically critique themselves about a lot of issues that the electorate think they have been taking for granted.

As one party cadre commented, "Chijairira chakapinda muparty chinofanira kupera". (The "business as usual attitude", which had crept into the party must be done away with.)

Despite the result, it is imperative for Zanu-PF to get up and move on.

Zanu-PF still has an advantage, which it needs to exploit, and exploit right now to best advantage.

Getting a popular vote for the House of Assembly at the height of the western-sponsored sanctions shows that the party still has a lot of support.

Three years ago, Peta Thornycroft saw the level of support that Zanu-PF enjoyed and she said in an interview:

"I first saw that demonstrated to me in the March elections of 2005, I was actually astonished by that and it is in my copy. I then saw it again demonstrated in the Budiriro by-election when 4 000 people continued to vote for Zanu-PF and it was quite a peaceful by-election.

"They were just as short of fuel, water and electricity as all the other people in Budiriro. And I think that I realised that I hadn’t taken into consideration that Zanu-PF was an old established party, which despite its appalling lack of democracy and its top down style of doing business — because of the liberation struggle and the propaganda it’s been able to feed everyone — it does genuinely have support".

It is at such a time as this that unity, cohesion and solidarity in Zanu-PF is of paramount importance.

We are talking about unity of purpose and being focused to achieve common goals and objectives.

We are also talking about unity that is driven by the ideological framework of the nationalist struggle.

We are also talking about unity of purpose that should realise that the legacy of this nation is at stake.

Some of the reasons are there for Zanu-PF to tackle not individually, but as a body politick.

As Constantine Chimakure wrote in a weekly newspaper in February, Simba Makoni’s mandate was to first cause a stir in Zanu-PF by resigning to show that he was serious in his bid to lead the alliance against President Mugabe.

The second mandate was for him to produce a split in Zanu-PF to help the opposition beat President Mugabe.

In this run off, Zanu-PF cadres should therefore remember that this is not a contest that is just pitting President Mugabe against Tsvangirai, but that it is a battle to save an institution called Zanu-PF and what it stands for.

Zanu-PF, since its formation, is an institution that has been battered left, right and centre, and President Mugabe as the leader of that institution is an embodiment of the ideological mindset that brought independence to this country.

This is a run-off election that will make future generations, most of whom had relatives who perished during the liberation struggle judge Zanu-PF if they fail to defend the gains of the struggle.

Therefore as he goes into that battle ring, we confidently assume that Cde Mugabe is not only going to save his Presidency as being peddled around, but he is entering the ring, with the support of all his comrades-in-arms for he is entering that ring for the sole purpose of restoring the Zimbabwean people’s identity and dignity.

He is going in there with collective support to save the Zanu-PF of yesterday, today and forever.

He will be fighting one of the battles of his lifetime since Zimbabwe is currently on the crossroads.

The successes that had been achieved in nation state building since the nationalist movement started would all be for naught if his comrades-in-arms do not rally behind him, and campaign very vigorously for him.

But most importantly, if they do not ensure that he receives a resounding victory.

Ordinary voters are questioning why Cde Mugabe failed to garner the required votes if Zanu-PF in the House of Assembly poll leads in the popular vote.

It is also not a secret that FOOD, FOOD, FOOD=POVERTY were definitive factors in this election.

One of the main issues that one hears from voters is the food security situation at household level.

Some claim that the promised maize did not come, and this was a crucial issue that should have been addressed, and should also be addressed for as long as possible.

The most unfortunate scenarios in election 2008 were that it was held when the nation was already reeling under serious economic challenges.

Mother Nature also was not on Zimbabwe’s side. As a result, people voted with their stomachs and some with their feet as they left the country for neighbouring countries in search of jobs and better livelihoods, especially the youths.

These are some of the fault lines that the Zanu-PF leadership should address.

They should address people’s hopes and expectations realistically and practically, and ensure that promises are fulfilled not only during campaign time, but every time. As one analyst pointed out, "there is a huge gap between rhetoric and action".

Zanu-PF en bloc should campaign vigorously for President Mugabe, including the losing candidates.

A lot is at stake, and a lot needs to be defended.

This is not a time for playing personality political bashing and factionalism within the party.

Thus the most important thing for Zanu-PF in the following three weeks will be to bury the hatchet and get their house in order.

The Simba Makoni issue, which I assume has given Zanu-PF part of this result, should have been nipped in the bud way back.

Unity of purpose and focus will determine this, for it is not a secret that the regime change backers are still prepared to pour in trillions of dollars in their "Mugabe must go" campaign.

And what will follow will be the destruction of a revolutionary party, and as we have witnessed in other parts of the continent cautious pragmatism is being used to destroy liberation movement governments.

In this run-off, Zanu-PF should know what its major concerns are? What should it be wary of? What are the gaps in its policies, which have been manipulated by the opposition? What pragmatic approaches should they adopt?

Should Zanu-PF be rebranded, remoulded? How should its message be packaged and marketed and sold to win, and win big.

On the eve of the election, in an emotional address to leaders of the Zimbabwe College Students’ Union, President Mugabe seemed to have identified one of the winning streaks, which Zanu-PF can use to best advantage.

Many present agreed that they were seeing a revival in the party through what the young students did and said. They even told the President that they had identified the root cause of the problems in Manicaland.

There is also need to do a thorough postmortem of why top Zanu-PF officials lost in the party’s Masvingo rural strongholds (Gutu, Zaka and Bikita), apart from Manicaland. Is it an in-house problem? Was the electorate registering a protest vote? Or it is something else?

Bikita West should be one of the best models in Zanu-PF’s identification of issues bedevilling the party for it was Bikita West that gave the MDC one of its first rural constituencies in the parliamentary election of the year 2000. And this was despite the fact that Tsvangirai had failed to garner support in his home constituencies of Buhera.

According to a resident from Zaka District who declined to be named, the major issue is that "Masvingo Province is drought prone and year in, year out, people from the province rely on food handouts from Government and the donor community.

"This is the same with Gutu and Bikita since they fall in the same geographic region. Thus the people’s hunger has been politicised beyond reasonable measure, and Zanu-PF should have read this message loud and clear many years ago."

Zanu-PF also needs to find out what election 2008 will do for national unity when it loses in the homes of the three founding fathers, Cdes Herbert Chitepo, late former Vice Presidents Cdes Joshua Nkomo and Simon Muzenda.

Thus the next three weeks are very crucial in Zanu-PF if the survival and soul of the party and nation have to be restored and safe guarded.

As one Herald correspondent pointed out last week, "It’s only when you lose something that you later realise was of irreplaceable value that you begin to appreciate the magnitude of your loss. In the same vein, this country is valuable to the past, present and future generations let us preserve it and not be like the biblical Esau who sold his birthright because of hunger. He was shortsighted that he did not realise the value of his birthright until he lost it. The same will happen to us if we are so foolish and hungry that we want to let this country go."


Zanu-PF still in control

EDITOR — Though things do not seem to be looking good for Zimbabwe right now with emotions running high on both sides and the spirit of accommodation at an all time low, one fact remains clear, and that is Zanu-PF still holds the reigns of power.

Nothing can stop them from arresting the MDC leadership if they so wish.

The other fact which is not so clear is that the MDC do not quite have the people’s unequivocal mandate.

True they have won more seats than Zanu-PF but they still do not have an absolute majority in parliament.

So one thing that should be made very clear is that at this very moment they share the people’s mandate with Zanu-PF on an almost 50-50 basis (99-97 to be precise). As they concede themselves, they still need to win the presidency outright, and as they concede, only after a re-run.

So what do these facts mean?

They mean those in MDC have to co-operate with Zanu-PF. If they choose to be stubborn, Zanu-PF has the distinct advantage of being in control.

The problem that MDC has right now, and that they have always had, is that they are playing to the wrong gallery.

They are playing to the Western Press and opinion. Yet the people who the MDC are supposed to be serving are the Zimbabwean.

Zimbabweans need peace and calm.

Another thing that bothers me is MDC Tsvangirai leaders seem to have a memory span shorter than a crocodile’s and analytical powers close to zero.

When the voting in Florida went down to the wire in the 2000 Al Gore vs Bush presidential elections, the House of Commons did not spend hours discussing the results. Nor did they show open support for any of the candidates.

In the end everyone agreed that it was better to maintain calm and for everyone to back down from high horses for the sake of the American people.

Why are the same people pressing the MDC to press on with a path that could put it in direct violent conflict with Zanu-PF? I think at this point the words "divide and rule" should start tolling all kinds of bells. So far Zanu-PF has conceded the need for a re-run.

True the results are being announced slowly but what difference does it make now. If they are fully announced today are we going to have a re-run tomorrow?

And what’s going to happen between now and the re-run. President Mugabe is going to remain in control. Fullstop. So why should those in MDC expend so much energy on this petty issue.

To me it is simply a sign of political immaturity. Vanhu veMDC muchenjere kutyorera tsvimbo mumakunguwo idzo hanga dzichauya. Kutaurwa kwemaresults makunguwo ayo. Hanga kuitwa kwere-run. The re-run is all that matters at the moment.

The problem is political immaturity within the ranks of the MDC. There are some people within the MDC simply obsessed with the prospect of humiliating Zanu-PF. How can you seek to humiliate half of Zimbabwe’s population?

That is approximately the number of people who voted for Zanu-PF in this election isn’t it?

Humiliating Zanu-PF is not about humiliating President Mugabe, it is about humiliating these people.

I don’t think any mature politician would seek to humiliate half of his potential voters and then expect they will vote for him in the next election.

Guys let’s deal with this election in a mature way.

So far we do not have a crisis, but we are rapidly rushing towards one with the stupidity of some among us.

J. Punungwe.
Harare


Let’s follow our conscience

EDITOR — Information provided by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission clearly shows that Zimbabwe is divided in the middle over political dynamics in the country.

It is a tight result in both cases with neither political party claiming the majority seats in the House of Assembly and with neither of the presidential candidates likely to attain the required percentage to claim victory in the Presidential race.

These are unique results in the history of Zimbabwe elections.

The anticipated presidential run-off is crucial for the future of the country.

It appears to me that God is asking each one of us to search our inner self, search our conscience and decide which of the two presidential candidates to vote for.

I liken our situation to the children of Israel at the Red Sea. A large number of the children of Israel regretted leaving Egypt where they were slaves.

God heard the prayers of those who believed in his power. The Red Sea separated to create a way for the children of Israel to walk through and flooded the Pharaoh’s army, which pursued them.

Today, God is asking us which way Zimbabweans? Do we want to go back to colonialism and oppression or walk to liberty which is within reach? Let us follow our inner conscience vana veZimbabwe. Todzokazve here kuSlavery?

Let us fight the British and her cronies in this do-or-die presidential re-run. Pamberi nekurwisa muvengi.

John D. Kuvita.
Harare


Tale of winners without outright majority

By Lawrence Moyo

HAD the laws governing presidential elections applied to the House of Assembly polls, then there would have been a run-off in 43 of the 206 constituencies where the winning candidates failed to garner 50 percent plus one vote of the valid ballot in the March 29 harmonised elections.

Of these 43 winning candidates who failed to get an outright majority, MDC-Tsvangirai had 24 followed by Zanu-PF with 12, MDC with six and Jonathan Moyo, who stood as an independent.

Midlands had nine such winners, Matabeleland South eight, Bulawayo seven, Manicaland five, Masvingo and Matabeleland North four each, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West two such winners each.

Midlands Province

In Chirumanzu, Phares Maramba of Zanu-PF secured his House of Assembly seat after getting 4 631 votes out of the valid ballot of 11 261, which represented 41,12 percent.

In the Gokwe constituency, Dorothy Mangami of Zanu-PF earned hear ticket on a 48,95 percent majority after getting 5 570 votes out of a valid ballot of 11 378.

In Gokwe-Kana, Zanu-PF candidate Busy Ngwenya’s 5 837 votes amounted to just 47,88 percent of the valid ballot.

In Zhombe, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Rodger Tazviona got 5 445 votes from 12 856 valid ballots and this translates to 42,35 percent.

In Silobela, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Anadi Sululu earned a House of Assembly seat with just 40,06 percent of the ballot after getting 4 624 votes from 11 544.

In Vungu, Zanu-PF’s Josephat Madubeko received 4 287 votes to earn the seat with 42,92 percent of the valid ballot.

In Gweru Urban, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Rodrick Rutsvara got 4 302 votes from a valid ballot of 9 849, a popularity rate of 43,68 percent.

In Chiwundura, Kizito Chivamba of Zanu-PF managed 47,34 percent of the valid ballot after polling 5 864 votes.

In Zvishavane-Ngezi, Obert Matshalaga of Zanu-PF was fortunate to face two MDC-Tsvangirai candidates as a split in their votes earned him the ticket with just 40,1 percent.

Matshalaga got 4 632 votes against 6 919 for the two MDC-Tsvangirai candidates, Pearson Mbalekwa and Costas Timveos.

Matabeleland South

MDC (Mutambara) won seven of the 13 constituencies in the province but only one candidate managed to win with more than half of the valid ballot — Siyabonga Ncube of Insiza South (50,86 percent).

In Gwanda Central, Patrick Dube of MDC (Mutambara) got 4 322 votes, which represented 43,87 percent of the valid ballot.

In Gwanda North, the winning MDC (Mutambara) candidate got 3 645 votes from a total valid ballot of 9 427 (38,67 percent).

In Matobo North, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Lovemore Moyo earned his seat with 3 503 votes out of a total valid ballot of 8 603 votes, which amounts to 40,72 percent.

In Matobo South, the MDC-Tsvangirai candidate had 3 226 votes, which represented 42,81 percent of the valid ballot.

In Umzingwane, Nomalanga Mzilikazi Khumalo of MDC (Mutambara) earned 48,7 percent of the valid ballot with 5 739 votes.

In Bulilima East, Norman Mpofu of MDC (Mutambara) had 37,57 percent of the valid ballot with 3180 votes.

In Bulilima West, Moses Ndlovu of MDC (Mutambara) got 3 996 votes, which represented 44,34 percent of the valid ballot.

In Mangwe, Mkhosi Edward Moyo of MDC (Mutambara) managed 44,39 percent of the valid ballot after getting 3 928 out of 8 849 votes.

Bulawayo Metropolitan

Although MDC-Tsvangirai had a clean sweep in the 11 contested seats in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, seven of their candidates failed to garner an outright majority vote.

In Bulawayo Central, Dorcas Sibanda got 3 786 votes to win the seat but that was just 43,06 percent of the valid ballot as her rivals shared 5 006 votes.

In Bulawayo East, Thabitha Khumalo won with 3 587 votes, which translated to just 45,09 percent of the valid ballot.

In Luveve, Reggie Moyo got 3 325 votes from a valid ballot of 8 386 and this represented just 39,65 percent.

In Magwegwe, Felix Sibanda received 2 979 votes to earn the seat with just 45,19 percent of the valid ballot.

In Nketa, Seiso Moyo earned a seat in the House of Assembly with just 46,51 percent of the valid ballot after getting 4 371 votes.

In Nkulumane, Tamsanqa Mahlangu got 3 976 votes from a total of 8 449 valid ballots, a success rate of just 47,06 percent.

In Pumula, Albert Mhlanga received 3 443 votes, which represented 46,07 percent of the valid ballot.

Strangely, Eddie Cross managed to get over 50 percent of the valid ballot in Bulawayo South despite having the least votes by a winning candidate in all the 206 constituencies.

Cross got just 2 764 votes which, however, amounted to 55,25 percent of the constituency’s valid ballot.

Manicaland

It was the most successful province for MDC-Tsvangirai as they got 20 of the 26 constituencies or 76,9 percent of the seats, but four of their winning candidates failed to get an absolute majority.

In Buhera Central, MDC-Mutambara Tangwara Matimba got 48,8 percent of the ballot after polling 8 763 votes.

In Makoni-North, Elton Mangoma of MDC-Tsvangirai got 5 055 votes, which represented 41,45 percent of the valid ballot, and he has Zanu-PF to thank for the seat.

Zanu-PF uncharacteristically fielded two candidates and they got a total of 7 139 votes, 2 084 votes more than the winning candidate — theirs was a split vote.

In Makoni South, Pishai Muchauraya of MDC-Tsvangirai got 6 501 votes out of a valid ballot of 14 072, representing 46,2 percent.

In Mutare South, Zanu-PF candidate Fred Kanzama won the seat with 7 606 votes, which represented 48,26 percent of the valid ballot.

In Mutare West, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Shuah Mudiwa won the seat with 48,36 percent after beating former Minster of Transport and Communication, Chris Mushowe by just 20 votes while an independent candidate took 536 votes.

Masvingo

In Masvingo MDC-Tsvangirai got most seats with 14 of the 26 but Zanu-PF had the popular vote in the province, an achievement built around successes in other 12 constituencies.

This is probably because three MDC-Tsvangirai candidates won with less than half of the valid ballot and although one Zanu-PF candidate also did the same, the party fielded two candidates whose total vote is well over half the valid ballot.

In Gutu West, Zanu-PF’s winning candidate polled 5 054 votes, which was 43,87 percent of the valid ballot.

However, the second Zanu-PF candidate got 2 384 votes meaning that the party had 7 438, or 64,57 percent of the valid ballot.

In Masvingo Central, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Jefferson Chitando polled 4 905 votes out of 10 568 valid ballots which translates to just 46,41 percent.

In Masvingo West, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Tachiona Maradza claimed the constituency with 47,34 percent after polling 4513 votes.

In Zaka Central, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Harrison Mudzuri won with 47,81 percent as he received 5 972 votes from a valid ballot of 12 490.

Matabeleland North

In Hwange East, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Wesley Sansole got 5140 votes or 47,39 percent of the valid ballot.

In Hwange West, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Gift Mabhena clinched the seat with 49,67 percent after polling 6 318 of 12 719 valid ballots.

In Lupane West, Zanu-PF’s Martin Khumalo’s 4 311 votes represented 46,06 percent of the valid ballot as the two MDC factions shared the other 5 049 votes.

In Tsholotsho North, Jonathan Moyo got 3 532 out of 8 922 valid votes, which represents just 39,59 percent.

Mashonaland Central

In Bindura South, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Bednock Nyaunde got 6 059 votes which translates to 46,82 percent of the valid ballot.

In Mazoe South, Zanu-PF’s Margrate Zinyemba’s 4 109 votes to win the constituency was just 42,18 percent of the valid ballot as the two factions of MDC split 5 453 votes.

Mashonaland West

In the newly-created Magunje constituency, Franco Ndambakuwa of Zanu-PF polled 4 587 votes to earn a seat in the House of Assembly but that was just 42,65 percent of the valid ballot as the MDC factions got a total of 5 873 votes while the other 294 went to UPP.

In Kariba, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Cleopas Machacha won the seat with 49,03 percent of the valid ballot after polling 7 090 votes.

Mashonaland East

In Goromonzi South, MDC-Tsvangirai’s Greenbate Dongo polled 6 456 votes to claim the constituency with 47,31 of the ballot.

In Mutoko North, Zanu-PF’s Mabel Chinomona’s 6 922 votes represented just 48,84 percent of the valid ballot.

Most popular candidates

(1) Ronald Ndava (Zanu-PF) 18 413 votes to win Chiredzi North.
(2) Patrick Sibanda (MDC-Tsvangirai) 16 325 votes to win Binga North.
(3) Washington Musvaire (Zanu-PF) 14 916 votes to win Maramba-Pfungwe.
(4) Lazarus Dokora (Zanu-PF) 14 264 votes to win Rushinga.

Least popular candidates

(1) Robert Kachara (ZPPDP) 23 votes in Warren Park.
(2) Muzvondiwa Mashonganyika (ZPPDP) 25 votes in St Mary’s.
(3) Jeremiah Reggis Mubaiwa (ZPPDP) 29 votes in Glen Norah.
(4) Moreprecission Muzadzi (VP) 34 votes in Glen View South.
(5) Alexios Maziyikana (ZPPDP) 34 votes in Highfield East.

Least "popular" winning candidates

(1) Eddie Cross (MDC-Tsvangirai) 2 764 votes to win Bulawayo South.
(2) Felix Sibanda (MDC-Tsvangirai) 2979 votes to win Magwegwe.

Most popular losing candidates

(1) Cliffet Mangena (MDC-Tsvangirai) 8281 votes to lose in Gokwe-Sesame.
(2) Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu-PF) 7 613 votes to lose in Buhera South.
(3) Christopher Mushowe (Zanu-PF) 7 577 votes to lose in Mutare West.
(4) Costin Muguti (MDC-Tsvangirai) 7 156 votes to lose in Gokwe-Kabuyani.
(5) Munacho Mutezo (Zanu-PF) 7 107 votes to lose in Chimanimani West.
(6) Tapiwa Zengeya (Zanu-PF) 7 092 votes to lose in Buhera Central.
(7) Chipo Sheila Mahere (Zanu-PF) 7 054 votes to lose in Mutare North.
(8) Elias Musakwa (Zanu-PF) 7 029 votes to lose in Bikita West.

No comments: