
By Blessed Mhlanga/Tinashe Makichi THE recently-formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa shocked the MDC Alliance, grabbing 19 National Assembly seats out of the 28 which were up for grabs, while the Douglas Mwonzora-led party failed to win even a single local government seat in the by-elections held at the weekend.
Zanu PF on the other hand retained seats in its strongholds and also gained ground, winning Epworth and Mutasa South constituencies previously held by the MDC A.
ZANU PF won nine seats.
The ruling party also claimed two council seats in Victoria Falls, one each in Kwekwe, Tafara and Zengeza, all previously held by the MDC Alliance, which promptly suspended its leader, Mwonzora according to unconfirmed reports.
#๐๐๐๐๐๐ด๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ง๐ณ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฒ-๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌhttps://t.co/iTXcpW38vq
โ NewsDay Zimbabwe (@NewsDayZimbabwe) March 28, 2022
So poor was MDC Allianceโs performance to the extent that its candidates failed to get a single vote at some polling stations. This election, however, proved to be a two-horse race between Zanu PF and CCC.
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There was a close call in Binga North, where CCC candidate Prince Sibanda scrapped through with a slim margin, getting 10 130 votes to Zanu PFโs Kudakwashe Munsakaโs 7 812 votes.
Elections were conducted in 28 parliamentary and over 128 local government seats that fell vacant following the recall of MDC Alliance legislators and councillors by Mwonzora.
At that time the party was being led by Chamisa. Mwonzora has since claimed the name MDC Alliance while Chamisa launched the CCC party in February.
While the results were trickling in, Mwonzora recalled 16 more local government officials.
#FOLLOW ๐ตB๐ฒ-๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: Source @ZECzim pic.twitter.com/NM4n2uqNnk
โ The Standard Zim (@thestandardzim) March 27, 2022
In Epworth, Zanu PFโs Zalerah Makari garnered 10 248 to beat CCCโs Earthrage Kureva, who got 8 283 votes.
According to Zec, Zanu PF retained rural seats in Mberengwa South, Murewa South, Chivi South, Mwenezi East, Gokwe Central and Tsholotsho North.
In Highfield East, CCCโs Erick Murai got 5 610 votes to reclaim the seat that he won in 2018.
In Kuwadzana, Johnson Matambo of CCC won after getting 7 157 votes while Betty Nhambu-Kaseke of Zanu PF garnered 2 636 votes.
Fatima Madamombe of MDC Alliance had 259 votes while UDAโs Nesbet Mapfumo got 56 votes. In Mufakose, CCCโs Susan Matsunga won after polling 4 039 votes.
In Kambuzuma, Willias Madzimure of CCC garnered 4 457 votes to reclaim the seat he won in 2018. Zanu PF candidate Oscar Nyamunokora got 1 800 votes, while MDC Allianceโs Fungai Chiposi polled 154.
In Glen Norah, Chikombo Wellington of CCC polled 5 098 votes, beating Zanu-PFโs Chrispen Allen Magaya who got 1 552 votes, MDC Allianceโs Israel Mabhande who got 280 votes, while Allan Munyuki of UDA won 49 votes.
#New #TalkingPaper ๐ด#ByElections @nelsonchamisa speaks. pic.twitter.com/L3SG5cOkSl
โ NewsDay Zimbabwe (@NewsDayZimbabwe) March 28, 2022
In Nkulumame, CCCโs Kucaca Phulu received 2 760 votes to reclaim the seat he won in 2018 while David Ndlovu of Zanu PF got 1 900 votes. Gideon Mangena of MDC Alliance received 150 votes.
In Marondera Central, Caston Matewu of CCC emerged the winner with 6 756 votes while Ignatious Mateveke of Zanu PF got 4 200 votes.
In Chivi South constituency, Zanu PFโs Munyaradzi Zizhou won the seat previously held by the expelled Killer Zivhu while Paul Thompson Mhlolo of CCC got 1 414 votes. Shadreck Mapope of MDC Alliance got 252, Faith Chuma of Patriotic Zimbabweans got 139 votes and 209 votes were spoilt.
In Kwekwe Central constituency, CCCโs Judith Tobaiwa got 6 639 votes. The seat was previously held by the late Masanga Matambanadzo who won it as a National Patriotic Front candidate in 2018.
Mbizoโs Settlement Chikwinya bounced back after getting 7 146 votes, beating Zanu PFโs Vongaishe Mupereri, who got 3 232 votes.
Chikanga/Dangamvura constituency was won by Prosper Mutseyami of CCC who polled 13 132 votes while Zanu PFโs Isau Mupfumi got 6 304 votes.
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