THE MDC-T is celebrating the outcome of Wednesday’s by-elections in Bulawayo which saw Zanu PF winning with reduced figures after a majority of people heeded the opposition party’s calls to boycott the polls.
BY SILAS NKALA
MDC-T claimed Zanu PF, despite winning all the five by-elections in the city, had its support reduced compared to the 2013 election results.
MDC-T Bulawayo deputy spokesperson Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda described the polls as “void by-elections” and wondered what Zanu PF would do after its pyrrhic win.
“Are we as Zimbabweans going to benefit from these unnecessary elections?” Sibanda asked.
“Is the economic meltdown set to improve? These are some of the important questions the nation at large is grappling with day and night.”
He said the Bulawayo MDC-T provincial executive was thanking Bulawayo residents and other stakeholders for not participating en masse in the elections.
“We have been vindicated as the MDC family by those ambitious political parties and individuals who participated and tested the pudding, and confirmed the MDC-T position demanding for electoral reforms before election,” Sibanda said.
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“Those who participated either as political parties or independent candidates complained of many irregularities like vote-buying, intimidation, coercion by chiefs or traditional leaders, contrary to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 281 (2) (a) to (d). As the most popular party, MDC-T is highly grateful to our Bulawayo structures and all stakeholders for ignoring the unnecessary by-elections.”
He said the MDC-T was eagerly waiting for 2018 hoping by then, significant electoral reforms would have been made.
“Those who are still doubting Thomases are now better-placed and will not in their lifetime be hoodwinked by Zanu PF to participate in bogus elections where results are predetermined,” Sibanda said.
“President Morgan Tsvangirai has proved beyond doubt that he is the voice of the people of Zimbabwe.
“Contrary to Zanu PF celebrating that they have gained ground in Harare and Bulawayo, this is not the case as my statistics show that those who heeded Tsvangirai’s call of a boycott averaged 77% in all constituencies and Zanu PF lost previously-held ground.”
Zanu PF won all the 16 contested seats and made inroads in Bulawayo and Harare.
In Makokoba, Bulawayo, Tshinga Dube received 1 667 votes out of 14 828 registered voters, beating other contestants who got a total votes of 707 altogether.
In Pelandaba-Mpopoma, Joseph Tshuma of Zanu PF got 2 050 out of 14 828 registered voters, beating other contestants who got a total of 977 votes altogether.
In Lobengula, Maidei Mpala of Zanu PF garnered 1 976 votes out of 25 373 registered voters, beating other contestants who got a total of 877 votes.
In Luveve, Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo of Zanu PF received 1 765 out of 28 211 registered voters, beating other contestants who got 1 466 votes altogether.
In Pumula, Godfrey Malaba Ncube of Zanu PF got 2 477 out of 26 448 registered voters, beating other contestants who got a total of 1 120 votes.
Sibanda said in 2013 in Mpopoma, Zanu PF got 2 122 compared to current figure which stood at 2 050. In Pumula, Zanu PF in 2013 got 2 877 compared to the current 2 477.
“In Chikanga, Zanu PF got 9 336 votes in 2013 compared to this year’s total of 6 376 votes out of 19 000 registered voters,” Sibanda said.
“In Kuwadzana, Zanu PF in 2013 got 4 345 votes and on June 10, got 3 480. In Kambuzuma, Zanu PF in 2013 got 4 165 votes against June 10’s 2 712,” he added.
“This shows that Zanu PF has had reduced support as its numbers have deteriorated when the MDC-T was not contesting. Figures show a sharp decline of Zanu PF support.”
Zanu PF had last won an election in Bulawayo in 1995.
