ZANU PF has reclaimed Ward 24 seat in the Gutu Rural District Council after trouncing the MDC-T and National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) in by-elections held at the weekend. OWN CORRESPONDENT
The seat fell vacant following the death of Bakuri Kufakunavo of Zanu PF on March 29.
Zanu PF’s Tinopiwa Chatukuta garnered 852 votes to beat the MDC-T’s Namatirai Chinyakata who got 338 and the NCA’s Tarwirei Mugadza with 33 votes.
Sources said a number of voters citing illiteracy were assisted to cast their ballots at six polling stations set up in the ward.
The ruling Zanu PF has continued to consolidate its hold on the 92 local authorities countrywide since the July 2013 elections as the party has won all by-elections since the polls that ended the Government of National Unity.
Out of 1 958 wards countrywide, Zanu PF controls 1 502 while the MDC-T has 442 and the MDC has the remainder.
Zanu PF made a strong comeback in Masvingo province in last year’s harmonised elections to win all the 26 contested House of Assembly seats.
