ZANU PF on Saturday restored lost pride, clinching the Chimanimani West by-election in convincing fashion, despite the losing candidates alleging serious voter intimidation and vote-buying by the ruling party.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI
Zanu PF came into the election under pressure after having recently lost to independent candidate Temba Mliswa in the Norton by-election.
The ruling party’s candidate Nokuthula Matsikenyere overwhelmingly defeated independent candidate Edmore Mtetwa, amassing 11 074 votes.
The outspoken Mtetwa garnered 3 018 votes, while Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe candidate, Peter Gudyanga got 183 votes and the National Constitutional Assembly, Pesanai Musakaruka got 171 votes.
Matsikenyere, who was over the moon yesterday, said she was ready to represent people in her constituency.
“I am happy to win the election, I want to thank my party for being behind me and all my supporters and I am ready to represent them and I am going to work very hard for them,’’ she said.
Mtetwa said he was worried after many people were assisted to vote.
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“Many people were assisted to vote and I have lodged a complaint over that, they were told when Zanu PF was campaigning that they should just
appear as if they don’t know how to vote, I was worried because just 24 hours before the election, Zanu PF distributed food, this was vote-buying,” he said.
Musakaruka said he was worried with Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s failure to stamp authority after his campaign posters were destroyed.