MATABELELAND SOUTH Zanu-PF provincial party structures have vowed to work
harder in a bid to reclaim lost seats that went to the opposition CCC political party, a
senior official has said.
In an interview with the Zanu-PF provincial party chairman, Mangaliso Ndlovu said
they lost most the seats due to the delimitation system which they overlooked as a
party.
In Matabeleland the ruling party strongest constituencies are Beitbridge, Gwanda
south, Insiza and Umzingwane. However, this time around some wards and
constituencies.
In this regard, some of the Presidential votes we also lost.
Out of 12 constituencies, the ruling party managed to grab 8 compared to 2013
where Zanu-PF had a landslide victory as it took all the 13 constituencies by then.
“Personally, I think we did well to defend both our wards and constituencies in the
province although we might have lost seats from some of our strongholds.
However, we are regrouping to restrategise ahead of the 2028 elections as we seek
to reclaim the seats, not only in Mat South but the region as a whole.
After taking a close analysis we realised that all the constituencies and wards we lost
are delimitation affected”
“Beitbridge tried to make inroads despite the fact that some of the wards went urban
wards which are believed to be opposition strongholds.
Same as Gwanda central which was combined with Beitbridge rural wards,” said
Mangaliso.
The provincial chairperson also went on to attribute some of the factors of their
losses to voter apathy.
“Our voter turnout stood at 55 percent far less than the national which stood at 67
percent. Voter apathy also affected us.
“We recorded the highest number of voters at Insiza with 15 000 out of 27 000
eligible voters while some constituencies recorded plus/minus14 000,”
“If we compare our figures with those from Mashonaland provinces, it is shocking
considering that some candidates were garnering more than 22 000 votes,” he
added.
In Gwanda South, the ruling party got 5 ward seats while the opposition got 6 from
Zanu PF’s strongest district in Matabeleland South Province.
Following the delimitation, in Plumtree seven wards went to Matobo-Mangwe a
development which confused potential voters.
Besides confusion, the distances apart from their homes to Polling stations were
unbearable.
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