Zanu PF make inroads in urban areas.

GWERU – Ruling Zanu PF continued to make inroads in urban areas after it won Gweru Ward 5 while
two of its candidates lost by narrow margins in the just-ended municipal by-elections.
Mafa Mafa Kwanisai will now become the only Zanu PF councillor in Gweru City Council which is
dominated by MDC-T and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors.
ZANU-PF retained the Mberengwa Rural District Council Ward 28 seat after its candidate romped to
victory in the council by-elections in which Zanu PF and opposition CCC won two seats each in the
Midlands province.
The ruling party also retained the Binga Ward seat in the weekend elections.
Mafa wrestled the Ward 5 seat from former deputy Mayor Cleopas Shiri who contested under CCC.
Shiri was recalled by MDC-T after he had shown his allegiance to CCC.
The results announced by Ward Elections Officer Pelagia Gutuza saw Mafa garnering 556 votes
against Shiri’s 472 while Leon Ndahwi of little-known Emmanual party managed 11 votes.
In Ward 4, Martin Chivhoko bounced back to council chambers under the CCC ticket after he polled
643 votes against Gibson Chingwadza of Zanu PF who had 300 votes.
John Mananaevhu Manyundwa of CCC won in Gweru’s Ward 18 after he polled 250 votes. Zanu PF
candidate Walter Makwalo managed 182 votes.
Zanu PF won big in Mberengwa Rural District Council Ward 28 where its candidate Sthethindaba
Zhou romped to victory after garnering 726 votes against rival and CCC candidate Nash Nkomo who
had 81 votes.
Ward Elections Officer Happiness Maphosa said the percentage poll was 46.6 percent. There were
16 spoilt ballot papers.
Meanwhile, ZANU-PF won in Binga Rural District Council Ward 20, after its candidate Luyando
Muleya polled 945 votes and CCC candidate Crispen Munkuli had 546 votes. There were 29 spoilt
ballot papers.