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Bulawayo Bureau
Zanu-PF has won two council seats in Gweru’s ward 5 and ward 11 that fell vacant following the sacking of MDC-T councillors for corruption.

Cdes Simon Chapukira and Silas Furo won in Saturday’s polls to claim seats previously occupied by the MDC-T’s Albert Chirau in ward 5 and Moses Marecha in ward 11.

The MDC-T councillors were fired by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere for misusing council property among other charges.

The MDC-T which says it will only participate in polls once electoral reforms are instituted, boycotted the by-elections.

Cde Chapukira won in ward 5 with 322 votes against an independent candidate, Peter Muchirawehondo, who managed 264 votes.

Cde Furo won in ward 11, garnering 376 votes against two independent candidates, Mulamuli Muguti who got 11 votes and Samson Tavengahama who had 184 votes.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Gweru District Elections Officer, Joshua Mhino said the polls were peaceful.

“The elections held last Saturday were fair. I’m happy we did not have any challenges and they were held in a very peaceful environment. We had enough manpower that is why we didn’t have any challenges in running the elections,” said Mhino.

Zanu-PF Midlands provincial spokesperson, Cde Cornelius Mupereri said the results show that they were on course to winning the 2018 general elections.

“What came out of these elections shows us that the Zanu-PF machine is now well oiled and we will be running very well considering we are gaining course here in the Midlands and the whole of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“Our hopes are now high and I believe we will claim everything in the 2018 harmonised elections.”