Zanu-PF retains Chegutu Ward 16 seat

ZANU-PF candidate Cde Obert Mutandinda Simunye romped to victory in the Chegutu Ward 16 by-election on Saturday to reclaim the seat left vacant following the death of Councillor Silas Chikati.

Cllr Simunye garnered 326 votes to beat Norwell Tichaona Muchenje of the MDC-Alliance, who got 89 votes and Patricia Mapfurira of the National Constitutional Assembly, who picked up just 13 votes.

At least 430 people turned up to vote, representing 56,2 percent of registered voters.

There were three polling stations in the ward at Mbuya Nehanda Clinic, Mukwasha Primary School and Waze Primary School.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Mashonaland West provincial elections manager Mr Austin Ndlovu said the elections went on smoothly.

“It was a very peaceful election with isolated and unsubstantiated cases of alleged intimidation which were unanimously dealt with during our multi-party liaison committee meetings. The commission delivered a credible election,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said voting started and ended on time, with only two votes being rejected, representing about 0,5 percent of the total votes cast.

“Counting and verification was confirmed by all parties, showing that the process was credible and accepted by everyone,” he said.

Winning candidate Cllr Simunye said his goal for the ward, which falls in the Musengezi area, was to push for the repair of roads and bridges.

“I would like to thank the people for trusting me with their vote, and promise that I will engage them in everything,” he said.

“My main focus is to have roads that were last repaired a long time ago worked on so that people see the value of council in their daily lives.”

Cllr Simunye said his selling point to the electorate was his openness, which sees him interacting with people in the area, which put him in better position to promote development.

The late Cllr Chikati died in a road accident days after being elected in the July 30 harmonised elections.