Strong Zanu-PF fends off opposition
ZANU-PF has won resoundingly in Manicaland after grabbing a majority 19 out of 26 parliamentary seats and will take serious stock of circumstances which precipitated the fall of its candidates in five constituencies previously under its armpit.
The ruling party maintained its hegemony in Makoni South (Cde Misheck Mataranyika), Makoni North (Cde James Munetsi), Makoni West (Cde Jennifani Muswere), Headlands (Cde Chris Chingosho), Mutare North (Cde Mike Madiro), Mutare West (Cde Percy Muchimwe), Chimanimani East (Cde Joshua Sacco), Chimanimani West (Cde Nokuthula Matsikenyere), Chipinge Central (Cde Raymore Machingura), Chipinge South (Cde Enock Prorusingazi), Nyanga North (Cde Chido Sanyatwe), Nyanga South (Cde Supa Mandiwanzira), Buhera West (Cde Soul Nzuma), Buhera Central (Cde Gijima Nyashanu), Buhera North (Cde William Mutomba), Buhera South (Cde Joseph Chinotimba), Mutasa North (Cde Chido Madiwa-Tsinakwadi) and Mutare South (Cde Jefrey Ngome).
Zanu-PF also pulled a shocker in Musikavanhu, which has been under MDC-T since 2008, with its candidate Cde Joshua Murire emerging victorious.
However, the ruling party ceded its dominion to the MDC Alliance in Chipinge East where Cde Win Mlambo lost to Mr Matheus Mlambo; Chipinge West where Cde Adam Chimwamurombe lost Mr Sibongile Nyamudeza; Mutasa South where Cde Misheck Mugadza lost to Mr Regai Tsunga; Chikanga-Dangamvura where Cde Esau Mupfumi lost Mr Prosper Mutseyami and Makoni Central where Cde Patrick Chinamasa lost to businessman Mr David Tekeshe.
MDC Alliance also maintained its grip on Mutasa Central (Mr Trevor Sariwaka) and Mutare Central (Mr Innocent Gonese).
The results have been widely accepted as the province remained calm despite tragic disturbances in Harare.
The tragedy about disturbances is that when elephants fight it is the grass that suffers and analysts warned that there is no justification for rowdy behaviour in an environment where concerns can be voiced in a more civil way, such as peaceful demonstrations.
Cde Madiro said Zanu-PF was not handed the victory on a silver platter.
“It was not an easy victory. I want to congratulate the party for this victory. You know what was happening in Mutare North, and difficulty as it was, we have prevailed,” said Cde Madiro.
Zanu PF provincial secretary for administration Cde Kenneth Saruchera hailed the party’s good showing and also promised to introspect on what went wrong in constituencies the lost to MDC Alliance.
“Generally, it’s a very good performance. We are satisfied with the election results, which reflect that Zimbabweans are in full support
of the new dispensation.
“This gives the new administration a new mandate and confidence to implement its programmes, part of which had already started before the elections,” said Cde Saruchera.
He said Zanu PF should devise a strategy to win back seats where odds are against it. “It was not easy, and unfortunately we lost in those constituencies. We wanted a clean sweep, but we failed to make it in seven constituency; meaning we are down by three from 2013 and by four from 2015. While we celebrate, we need to take serious stock of what went wrong, especially in the five constituencies we had sitting legislators. It is a serious cause of concern for us to loose five constituencies previously under our control like that. We need to consolidate, not to cede,” said Cde Saruchera.
The major talking point is the acrobatic fall of Zanu PF national secretary for finance and Finance Minister Cde Chinamasa in Makoni Central which party insiders and analysts attributed to urban vote protest to truancy and failure to lure investment in Rusape and Manicaland.
Analyst Mr Donald Kamba Makoni said: “The urban vote has always been a preserve of the opposition and Zanu PF should do more to impress the urbanites if it seeks to maintain and retain its position as the dominant party in the province and in the country as a whole. It appears that Cde Chinamasa’s position as finance minister was treated by many in the province as an added opportunity to lure investment in his home province. Alas, there is not much to point to in investment terms and this could also have triggered his fall in his own constituency,” he said.
Mr Makoni also condemned disturbances in Harare as “regrettable and wrongful”.
“Since 1999, democracy was treated by opposition parties as their exclusive property, with any electoral outcome that does not favour them being viewed as negation of the principles and values attached to free and fair elections.
“MDC Alliance treated this election as a formality to usher them in power, but the announcement of constituent results blew their dream to ashes and the sense of entitlement to govern was injured. The disturbances feed into a dream gone awry and supported by a leadership that warned of bloodshed if victory was not delivered to them. Ironically, but prophetically blood was shed, and it’s regrettable” said Mr Makoni.
Cde Mataranyika was optimistic that President Mnangagwa will win with a majority vote.
“It is my wish that President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa prevails with a majority vote. That way we can complete the chain of development from the President, MP to the Councillor. So it is my wish that ED prevails emphatically,” said Cde Mataranyika.
Mr Tekeshe said the result reflected God’s favour on him.
“I call this my Ebenezer, Ebenezer, the Lord has taken me this far. I will give unique leadership and active representation of Makoni Central. It lacked active representation, and I will meet or exceed the constituents’ expectations,” said Mr Tekeshe.