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George Maponga in Masvingo
Zanu-PF has retained Gutu Rural District Council’s Ward 24 after its candidate, Cde Tinopiwa Chatukuta, defeated two others sponsored by the opposition MDC-T and NCA in a by-election held on Saturday.
Cde Chatukuta polled 852 votes to shrug off a challenge from Mrs Namatirai Chinyakata (MDC-T), who managed 318 votes, and Mr Tarwirei Mugadza (NCA), who garnered 33 votes.

The by-election was held to fill in a vacancy created by the death of Cde Bakuri Kufakunavo of Zanu-PF on March 29.
Zanu-PF has won all but one of the by-elections held since last year’s harmonised elections and has wrested several wards previously held by the MDC-T.

The revolutionary party controls 1 501 wards, while it’s nearest challenger, the MDC-T, has 442 out of the 92 local authorities in the country.
ZEC ward elections officer Mr Leo Madzima declared Cde Chatukuta the new councillor for Ward 24 after announcing the results at Maungwa Secondary School in Gutu South, which was the results collation centre.

ZEC Masvingo provincial elections officer Mr Zex Zirabada Pudurai said the by-election was held peacefully, with all the three candidates expressing satisfaction with the outcome.

Mr Pudurai paid tribute to the people in the ward for exhibiting political maturity.
“We are happy with the way polls were conducted, especially considering that polling agents and everyone have accepted and endorsed the outcome,” he said.

“There were no complaints from any quarter, which means everyone was satisfied with the election process.’’
Zanu-PF was expected to romp to victory in the Gutu council by-election after the party swept most of the wards in last year’s harmonised elections in Masvingo province.

The party’s provincial spokesperson, Cde Goddard Dunira, said Zanu-PF’s victory in the by-election was a clear indication that the majority of Zimbabweans had confidence in President Mugabe’s leadership.

Zanu-PF regained its political dominance in Masvingo after sweeping all, but one of the 26 National Assembly seats in the province during last year’s harmonised elections.
The other seat was won by independent candidate Dr Munyaradzi Kereke, who was barred from contesting on the revolutionary party ticket.