Zanu PF Takes Harare Ward 36&Chinhoyi Ward 4

Zanu PF Takes Harare Ward 36&Chinhoyi Ward 4

The ruling Zanu Pf party Led by President Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has taken Harare Ward 36 and Chinhoyi Ward 4 registering big Wins in 2 council by-elections.

This follows former Harare Mayor Lovejoy Chitengu’s election when he replaced current Harare Mayor His Worship Jacob Mafume.The Mayor who dislodged Mafume, after his victory in last year’s elections, Chitengu went on to become Harare mayor, but did not last a month after self proclaimed Secretary General (SG) Sengezo Tshabangu recalled him.

Chitengu was elected Mayor just before his letter of recall was sent to the Minister of Public Works and National Housing, Honourable Winston Chitando but survived for a few days because the letter had a spelling error, missing “n” on the surname, and ended up reading Chitegu.

This error and anomaly was later sorted and he went home.Meantime in Chinhoyi, Zanu PF candidate Ignatius Zvigadza romped to victory after garnering 728 votes, followed by Archbord Muzanenhamo (independent), who got 675 votes and another independent candidate Ignatius Blessed Chari who got a measly 13 votes, two votes less than the 15 spoilt ballots recorded.

This by-election followed the nullification of the August 2023 election results by Chinhoyi High Court judge, Justice Philda Muzofa, in a default judgment.

Zvigadza, who had lost the initial election, had argued in court that Muzanenhamo was dishing out groceries to voters at his shop located within 300 metres of the polling station, just after casting their ballots, in violation of electoral laws.

Clearly Zanu PF has won Harare Ward 36 and Chinhoyi Ward 4 after defeating opposition candidates in yesterday’s by-elections.In addition the ruling party won Chinhoyi Ward 4 after defeating opposition candidates in Saturday by-elections as well as Harare Ward 36.

Harare Municipality by-election was necessitated by the recall of former councillor Lovejoy Chitengu, who had won during the August 2023 harmonised elections.

Chitengu ditched the CCC and contested as an independent.

Hilda Ruzani, the ZanuPF candidate polled 1 202 votes, while Chitengu got 1 115 votes and Loveness Gomba, a former councillor under the MDC Alliance banner got 289 votes.