Political Reporter
The recent by-elections held in Chipinge and Kariba have seen ZANU PF closing the voter gap in the once opposition strong holds.
A survey by this publication has established that in the recently ended Chipinge ward 16 by-election, opposition party, CCC polled 1 291 whilst ZANU PF polled 1 205 votes compared to elections held in 2018 were the same opposition party poled 2 025 votes whilst the ruling ZANU PF polled 1 331.
Based on these results, the CCC party managed to retake the seat but the ruling ZANU PF party has managed to close the previous gap of 694 votes to just 86 votes.
According to a source within CCC, (it has no structures) these developments have unsettled the CCC which has on realised that the ruling party is fast closing the voter gap. The source added that even though the CCC party managed to retain the seats, the opposition had failed to penetrate ZANU PF strongholds.
“Our leaders preferred to hear the results over the telephone because they are aware of the challenge posed by ZANU PF in our once strongholds. Results came in indicating a win in both wards but the victory was not celebrated overwhelmingly due to the slim win against ZANU PF,” said the source.
Kuda Humba, a political analyst said the sudden switch from CCC to ZANU PF could be attributed to ZANU PF’s fulfilment of its 2018 election promises.
Humba said projects being spearheaded through the National Development Strategy 1such as the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programmes in Chipinge that ensure a quick return to normalcy after Cyclone Idai, could be some of the reasons.
He also cited the rehabilitation of Kariba Airport as another stimulating key factor that could have aroused the hope of people in Kariba as the town relies more on tourists. Kariba has also witnessed the Lake rehabilitation where the plunge pool was recently reshaped.
Humba also cautioned the opposition party not to be comfortable with the results of the by-election suggesting that failure by the CCC party to deliver services to urban dwellers is also one of the major reasons why ZANU PF is gaining foothold in the urban areas, while adding that the voter turn-out for the recent by-election was low, hence should not be used as a barometer for 2023 Harmonised General elections.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF has been able to regain three wards which belonged to opposition parties. This has also been attributed to the recent restructuring of ZANU PF Cells.
