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Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
ZANU-PF’s Cde Typewriter Chiuswa has won Chivi ward 14 by-election uncontested after MDC-T candidate Tawanda Chitanga withdrew from the race.
Other opposition parties failed to field candidates.
Cde Chiuswa replaces Alderman Strove Tarukwasha, who died at United Bulawayo Hospitals in June this year after succumbing to kidney failure.
In a statement yesterday, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the by-election that was set for September 6 has now been cancelled.

“It is hereby notified, in terms of Section 126(2) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), that Chitanga Tawanda of the MDC-T party withdrew his candidature for election in ward 14 of Chivi Rural District Council.

“It is further notified that Chiuswa Typewriter of Zanu-PF party was declared the duly elected councillor for ward 14 of Chivi Rural District Council as he was the only candidate remaining following Chitanga Tawanda’s withdrawal,” said ZEC.

In April this year Zanu-PF candidate Enock Gurumba won the Makonde Ward 8 by-election uncontested after the MDC-T and other opposition parties failed to field candidates.

During the same month, the ruling party won Mkoba ward 12 Gweru by-election with its candidate Cde Charles Simbi polling 556 votes while Richard Ndlovu of the National Constitutional Assembly got 65 votes.

Fortunate Chiokoyo of MDC-T got 486 votes. In June Zanu-PF won the Chegutu Rural District Council ward 11 by-election after its candidate Cde Taurai Sengu secured 1 103 votes against 45 for MDC-T’s Didlane Walaza.

The by-election followed the death of ward 11 Councillor Nickson Mubatapasango.
Zanu-PF’s victories consolidate the party’s dominance in local authorities throughout the country.

It is now in control of 1 502 wards against the MDC-T’s 442.