…as CCC snatches Chiredzi Central, two wards in Masvingo Urban

By Clayton Shereni
The ruling Zanu PF has continued to have a firm grip over Masvingo province after it snatched the majority of National Assembly seats and council wards in the just ended August 23 harmonized elections.
Zanu PF won 23 constituencies out of 25 seats that were up for grab save for only two seats,  Masvingo Urban and Chiredzi Central that were seized by opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
In 2018 Zanu PF won 25 out of 26 seats losing out in Masvingo Urban only.
CCCs Ropafadzo Makumire, snatched Chiredzi Central from Zanu PF which had won the seat in 2018.
Zanu PF is, however, optimistic of bringing their tally to 24 seats by winning the Gutu West seat where a by-election will be held in due course following the death of Mutonhori Rwodzi an independent
contestant.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairman, Robson Mavhenyengwa told this publication that they are delighted by their performance and that of their leader.
“We performed very well and the results are clear for all to see that Zanu PF is the people’s party. Masvingo is the ruling party’s stronghold, our President Emmerson Mnangagwa won resoundingly and that is testimony of Zanu PFs popularity in the province,” said
Mavhenyengwa.

In local authority elections, Zanu PF won 210 wards across the province’s seven districts.
CCC managed to win 31 wards and one ward went to an Independent candidate. CCC shocked Zanu PF in Masvingo urban where it won nine out of 10 wards. In 2018 CCC won seven wards and Zanu PF had three.
However, only Sengerayi Manyanga of Ward 10 retained his place in the council chambers. Against Chiteme a self-proclaimed prophet in the apostolic sect who used to bank on his church followers vote lost to CCCs Benard Muchokwa in Ward 9. Wilstaff Sitemere of CCC also won Ward 6 which was won by Zanu PFs Wellington Mawende in 2018.