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Joseph Madzimure Senior Reporter
Political commentators have described Zanu-PF’s victory in the Zaka East by-election on Saturday as a seal of approval for the ruling party to remain in power despite tenacious threats from imperialist forces.

Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said Zanu-PF’s victory in the by-election was a seal of approval from the electorate due to sound policies.

“The Zaka East by-election in which the Zanu-PF candidate polled 7 119 votes against MDC-Alliance’s 1 518 is instructive over the legitimacy issue as well as approval of the party of Government’s policies by the populace,” he said. “Informed voters are voting on patriotism and principle as they did in 2018,” said Mr Mangwana.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairman Cde Ezra Chadzamira described the victory as a clear testimony that the electorate believed in the New Dispensation under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.

“The party has sound policies sellable to the electorate as compared to MDC-A, who invited sanctions to make people suffer,” he said.

“MDC-A uses social media to campaign, while Zanu-PF is mobilising people through addressing their concerns by initiating empowerment projects, drilling boreholes, promoting agriculture, among other projects..”

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) national chairman Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa said the Zaka East victory served to confirm the “baptism of Zanu-PF as the perennial party of governance of Zimbabwe”.

“It also condemns the MDC-A as a marginal national political minnow that will never rule,” he said. The population of Zimbabwe, Cde Mutsvangwa said, was 70 to 80 percent rural.

“The lack of rural appeal by Nelson Chamisa and his cohorts meant that they can never aspire to win support from the majority of the electorate,” he said. “No wonder why the canvassing and winning of votes is not their pre-occupation.

“Instead, the MDC-A spent time on lies and tricks to wring out funding from the sulking brigade that forlornly wishes failed State and regime change,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.