Clean sweep for Mash East in by-elections

By Archford Chirimudombo

MARONDERA- This time around, the electorate in Mashonaland East had a change of mind on who they felt better represents their interests in Parliament and council when they overwhelmingly voted for Zanu PF candidates in last weekend’s by-elections.

The province registered a clean sweep of the two National House of Assembly and three council seats that were contested for in the recent by-elections.

The by-elections were held on February 3 to fill vacancies left by the recalls of Members of Parliament and councillors by Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu.

Six constituencies across the country held the by-elections and they included Chegutu West and Zvimba East in Mashonaland West province, Mkoba North and Pelandaba-Tshabala in Bulawayo as well as Seke and Goromonzi in Mashonaland East.

In Goromonzi South, Zanu PF’s Washington Zhanda was victorious after garnering 6 865 votes against the Reuben Chikudo of the CCC received 1 067 votes.

Munyaradzi Kashambe who was the ruling party’s candidate in Seke also won big as he polled 8 586 votes against Everisto Chisi (CCC) who managed 669 votes. The other candidate who contested in the constituency, Willard Madzimbamuto who had a short stint as the legislator of the constituency after being recalled by Tshabangu threw his hat in the ring in the same constituency as an independent candidate, but could only manage 2 401 votes.

Zanu PF’s victory in these two constituencies means that the party now controls 21 of the 23 National House of Assembly seats in Mashonaland East.

Nationally, the party now holds 190 of the 280 seats in the National House of Assembly after surpassing the required 187 seats to hold a two-thirds majority.

Following his wildly-celebrated victory in Seke, Kashambe hailed the constituency’s electorate for bestowing their faith in him to represent them in the August house.

He said: “I am very happy for the faith that was shown in me by the electorate, considering how they overwhelmingly voted for me to be the representative in Parliament again. I just want to assure them that as I discharge my duties during my term, I will continue to work towards transforming this constituency and ensure everyone enjoys being under Seke constituency. No one and no place will be left behind as we work in unity towards developing our constituency.

““We did a sterling job together during the campaigning period and as a party, we worked round the clock to ensure that we reclaim this seat which was narrowly won by Madzimbamuto during last year’s harmonised elections. I am also grateful to President (Emmerson) Mnangagwa for bringing development to the Seke constituency and all the support during the by-elections.”

Goromonzi South winner, Zhanda, proffered similar comments and vowed to work hard for the development of the constituency.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF won all the three Wards that were contested for in Marondera Central constituency.

By elections in the wards were necessitated by the CCC recalls made to former Marondera Mayor Abel Nyakarombo (Ward 8), his deputy Bornface Tagwirei (Ward 3) and Thompson Magaluwa of Ward 10.

In Ward 10, Zanu PF’s Maidah Marozva amassed 489 votes compared to the CCC’s Jimmy Jalifu who received 152 while Aleck Mumbiro was declared the winner in Ward 8 after receiving 435 votes to Brighton Mujuru, the opposition candidate who had 121 people voting for him.

Christopher Mujaranji completed the Marondera Urban rout after posting an impressive 325 votes against the CCC’s Hery Mugumbate who had 73.