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Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau 

THE ruling Zanu PF party continues to make inroads into opposition strongholds in Chinhoyi town after it won the ward 2 council by-election held on Saturday. 

Zanu PF’s Cde Walter Mutevani polled 564 against CCC’s Hamilton Jonasi who got 465. 

The seat had been in the hands of the opposition but fell vacant after the winner in August 23 election Patricia Chibaya died a few days after being sworn in. 

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Makonde district officer, Mr Shepherd Kawocha announced the result, saying 39,2 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots. 

There were only seven spoilt papers. 

Zanu PF provincial chairman, Cde Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said the result showed that the urban electorate was shifting attention to the ruling party. 

“This is just a sign that the ruling party is positively touching the lives of the people. The electorate has also seen that the opposition has nothing to offer as evidenced by poor service delivery. So this result shows that they want the Zanu PF to turn things around in the provincial capital,” she said.

The ruling party also won the Zvimba ward 23 by-election last month. 

The ward, which covers the whole of Banket town, went to Zanu PF’s Cde Cecilia Muganhiri. 

Speaking to The Herald yesterday, an elated Cde Mutevani vowed to represent his people and fight for service delivery. 

Working with Zanu PF’s shadow Member of Parliament for Chinhoyi, Cde Thomas Chidzomba, Cde Mutevani ensured that the people in his ward had access to clean water by installing solar powered boreholes.

A week ago, during a campaign rally to drum up support for Cde Mutevani, Zanu PF spokesperson and War Veterans Affairs Minister Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa rallied people in the ward to boot out CCC as it had failed to deliver services. 

Chinhoyi is expected to hold three more by-elections after CCC secretary-general Mr Sengezo Tshabangu recalled five councillors last month arguing they had ceased to be members of the beleaguered party.

The five who were axed included ward 12 councillor Mr Dyke Makumbi, Mr Lovemore Kurwakumire from ward 10 and ward 9 representative Mr Ninion Verandeni.

Mr Tshabangu also recalled proportional representation members Ms Dorcas Marunga and Ms Florence Masache.

The nomination court for the three wards is expected to sit on December 18 in Chinhoyi before the polls next February.

CCC is now being represented by seven councillors out of the 15 wards that were directly voted into office with Zanu PF having three councillors being directly voted into office.

The council has one independent candidate.