By Tendai Matunhu

Local Government by elections held recently in Chiredzi South ward 12 on Saturday saw Zanu PF retaining the ward with their candidate Arnold Rukada leading with 159 votes against John Mazhata of MDC who got 26 votes.

The seat fell vacant following Zanu PF`s candidate Andrew Ndebele’s resignation due to ill health.

Zanu PF popularity in the ward is in the ascending mode.  In 2018, in the same ward Zanu PF got 148 votes which was 62.9%. This time around they got 159 votes which is 85.9%, reflecting a great improvement. MDC on the other hand in 2018 got 87 votes which was 37.1% and this year they got 26 votes which is 14.1% in the same ward.

Political analyst Revai Mutinhima said MDC leader Nelson Chamisa claims to have won during the 2018 Presidential elections yet his party candidates continue to lose to Zanu PF in by-elections. She said this leaves people wondering as to what supporters the MDC claims to have if they are losing like this.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has so far conducted 15 local by-elections countrywide since the 2018 Presidential elections and of these Zanu PF has won 11 with MDC only winning four. In the National Assembly Zanu PF retained four seats whilst MDC only retained the Glenview South seat.

Churches recently called for a seven year moratorium of elections which Zanu PF rejected because they have nothing to fear, they know that they will win elections no-matter the challenge.