The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) defied expectations for a newly formed political party, grabbing 19 out of 28 National Assembly seats in the by-elections held on Saturday. They also won 75 out of 122 council seats.
The ruling Zanu PF party will be consoling itself by celebrating the capture of Epworth and Mutasa South from the opposition but they will also be mindful they ‘technically’ lost Kwekwe Central to the CCC. (The previous MP the late Masanga Matambanadzo won as an independent in 2018 after being expelled from Zanu PF).
Many analysts had already predicted that Zanu PF would win in Epworth because they recruited the independent candidate who performed very well in the 2018 elections.
Zanu PF’s Zalerah Makari got 10 248 votes to beat Earthrage Kureva from the CCC who got 8 283 votes.
As expected Zanu PF retained its rural sets in Mberengwa South, Murewa South, Chivi South, Mwenezi East, Gokwe Central and Tsholotsho North.
The CCC won big in Marondera Central, Kwekwe Central, Highfield East, Kuwadzana, Nkulumane, Glen Norah, Mufakose and Mbizo.
BY-ELECTION RESULTS (Preliminary)
Constituency: Mufakose Province: Harare CCC: 4039 Zanupf: 1128 MDC Alliance : 218 Winner: CCC Susan Matsunga
Constituency: Glenview North Province: Harare CCC: 4053 Zanupf: 1578 MDC Alliance : 112 NPF: 20 Winner: CCC Fani Munengami
Constituency: Mutasa South Province: Manicaland CCC: 5269 Zanupf: 5818 MDC Alliance : 162 Independent: 50 Winner: We lost this seat to Zanupf
Constituency: Kambuzuma Province: Harare CCC: 3092 Zanupf: 1333 MDC Alliance : 108 Winner: CCC Willias Madzimure
Constituency: Glen-Norah Province: Harare CCC: 5098 Zanupf: 1552 MDC Alliance : 280 UDA :18 RPZ: 49 Winner: CCC Wellington Chikombo
Constituency: Nkulumane Province: Bulawayo CCC: 2760 Zanupf: 1900 MDC Alliance : 150 DOP:18 RPZ: 45 Winner: CCC Phulu Kucaca
Constituency: Marondera Central Province: Mashonaland East CCC: 6756 Zanupf: 4200 MDC Alliance:292 Independent:55 Winner: CCC Caston Matewu
Constituency: St Mary’s Province: Harare CCC: 5830 Zanupf: 4483 MDC Alliance:201 Independent : 55 Winner: CCC Tarusenga Unganayi Dickson
Constituency: Harare East Province: Harare CCC: 7534 Zanupf: 3045 MDC Alliance:114 UZA: 100 LEAD: 25 Winner: CCC Laxton Tendai Biti
Constituency:Dangamvura-Chikanga Province: Manicaland CCC: 13132 Zanupf: 6304 MDC Alliance:341 PZ: 209 MA/AT 57 Winner: CCC Mutseyami Chapfiwa Prosper
Constituency: Pumula Province: Bulawayo CCC: 3092 Zanupf: 1212 MDC Alliance:110 ZAPU:227 UDA: 33 RPZ: 27 Independent: 62 Winner: CCC Mahlangu Sichelesile