By Christopher Makaza
Zanu PF`s Nyanga ward 26 and Bikita East ward 31 by-election victories against the MDC has been described by political analysts as an eye opener to the beleaguered opposition which assumes that the ruling party is now weak because of the country`s prevailing economic challenges.
In Bikita ward 31, Thomas Matanga helped Zanu PF to retain the ward by 1112 while MDC Alliance’s candidate, Moses Maphosa had 410 votes.
Zanu PF wrestled the Nyanga South ward 26 from MDC Alliance after harvesting 396 votes. MDC Alliance got 236.
In a press statement, Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said the revolutionary party was satisfied with its performance in the just ended by-election.
“The results did not come as a surprise as they only confirmed the trouncing victory the party expected. The winning trend since the Cowdry Park municipal by-election in Bulawayo stands as the barometer for future polls and the writing is clear on the wall that the party is well set in pole position ahead of the 2023 national polls,” reads part of the statement.
Cde Moyo said Zanu PF policies underpinned by fruitful economic, political, constitutional and legislative reforms were selling well to the electorate.
Political analysts say MDC`s assumption that Zanu PF is no longer popular with the electorate has proved wrong.
“MDC leadership had relaxed thinking that because of the current economic hardships prevailing in the country, the ruling party had lost trust with the electorate, which is very wrong. MDC Vice Chairman Job Sikhala who was mobilising for the opposition party`s support in Bikita ahead of the by-election undermined Zanu PF`s popularity without knowing that it had already covered much ground regarding mobilisation.
“The Nyanga electorate had a protest vote because of the ill treatment of their son, former Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora who was demoted from being the SG post to the Deputy Secretary of International Relations,” says Mr Emmanuel Muchadehama, a political analyst.
Mr Muchadehama said the by-election results were a true reflection of the outcome of the coming 2023 harmonised election as the opposition party has no clear policies which lure the electorate and also has no solutions to the current economic challenges bedevilling the country.
The Bikita’s ward 31 was left vacant following the death of Zanu PF councillor Patrick Marozhe on April 15 this year whilst the Nyanga RDC ward 26 was necessitated by the death of MDC Alliance councillor, Alias Shumba.
