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Midlands Correspondent
Zanu-PF romped to victory in council by-elections, winning the Mkoba Ward 12 seat in Gweru at the weekend. Its candidate, Cde Charles Simbi, defeated MDC-T and NCA candidates.
Cde Simbi garnered 556 votes while his bitter rival, Mr Fortunate Chiokori of MDC-T, got 486 votes and Mr Richard Ndlovu of NCA polled 64 votes.

The latest win consolidated Zanu-PF’s dominance in local government countrywide with its council haul rising to 1 501 wards to MDC-T’s 442.

There are 92 local authorities countrywide that consist of 1 958 wards.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission provincial election officer Mrs Dorcas Mpofu confirmed the results.

Ward 12, which was declared vacant following the death of Councillor Elvis Mavhondo of MDC-T last year becomes Zanu-PF’s third council seat out of 19.

Zanu-PF Midlands chairman Cde Jason Machaya said the win was timely considering that the party was in the process of implementing Zim-Asset.

“We are happy that we managed to secure Ward 12 seat in Mkoba. This shows that people have confidence in the revolutionary party and that they have received and understood the message in our economic blueprint (ZimAsset).

“We were solidly united when we went into this election unlike the other parties which were divided as reflected by their infighting. People have lost confidence in other parties. For instance, in the last election, MDC-T got about 1 200 votes but this time they got less votes.

“We would also want to thank the people in Gweru for voting peacefully during this council by-election,” he said.

Cde Simbi said he was ready to deliver.

“People have shown confidence in me and I will not disappoint them. We endeared ourselves to the people through Zim-Asset.

“We want to fully implement the economic blueprint in urban centres as is being done in rural areas,” he said.