Zanu PF bags 23 Masvingo seats … as two ex-mayors bite dust

ZANU PF party has won 23 seats in Masvingo Province during last Wednesday’s harmonised elections, losing only two seats to the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
Zanu PF lost two constituencies, Masvingo Urban in which the CCC candidate Martin Mureri won by 13 042 votes against Wellington Mahwende of Zanu PF who polled 6 513 while outgoing Masvingo City Mayor Collen Maboke, who stood as independent pocketed 1 629.
In Chiredzi Central, CCC candidate Ropafadzo Makumire won with 12 342 votes, while Francis Moyo of Zanu PF had 7 832 votes as the outgoing Chiredzi Town Mayor, Gibson Hwende, who stood as independent after the disappointment of not being selected to represent CCC in the election received 676 votes.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira, retained his seat in Masvingo West with 10 472 votes, while his rival, Pedzisai Gasva, garnered 9 458 votes.
In Masvingo Central, Eddison Zvobgo Jnr, son to the late national heroes, Dr Eddison Mudadirwa Zvobgo and Julia Zvobgo, won with 9 962 votes against Moses Mavhaire, son to the former Energy and Power Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, who had 7 350 votes.
In Masvingo South, Tanatsiwa Mukomberi won the seat with 11 467 votes against Knowledge Mabvuure of CCC, who had 5 088 votes. Brian Mudumi won the Masvingo North seat with 11 467 votes against Enock Madzivire of CCC.
Gutu West is yet to hold parliamentary elections as they were postponed after the death of one of the contestants, Christopher Mutonhori Rwodzi.
Meanwhile, Masvingo provincial elections officer, Zex Pudurai, said the elections in the province were free and fair with no reports of violence.
“I have received no complaints from any of the political parties and more so from the observers. Surely, I can endorse our elections at province level as free and fair. Very credible. The number of our voters was so high, clear testimony was seen when we look at the queues which were prevailing at the polling stations. We had 1 416 polling stations, which were oversubscribed in terms of attendance,” he said.