The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) lost three of the eight council seats it had won in August to Zanu PF after five of its recalled councillors retained their seats from the eight contested wards in Saturday’s by-elections in Bulawayo.
The ruling party took the remaining three from the contested wards and analysts have warned that if the “disorganisation” and in the opposition party continues, which is exposed by “lack of better tactics,” Zanu PF will grab more seats in urban areas.
Zanu PF won in Ward 1, where its Nehanda District Chairperson Josiah Mutangi, also a leader of vendors operating in the market square defeated Shepherd Sithole.
The ruling party also won Ward 21 where this time around songstress Sandra Ndebele defeated Simbarashe Dube and conquered Ward 24 where Arnold Batirai lost.
Meanwhile, the five winning CCC councillors were Nkosinathi Mpofu Hove from Ward 6, Donaldon Mabuto from Ward 9, Felix Takunda Madzana Ward 18, Tinevimbo Maphosa from Ward 21 and Ward Mmeli Moyo 22.
In an interview with CITE Political analyst Bernard Magugu said the “chaos” in the CCC and the “organised Zanu PF onslaught” on the opposition party could have contributed to the outcome of the results.
“The confusion after the removal of the CCC MPs’ candidates also contributed to the CCC’s loss as voters were asking themselves if the recalled councillors would be on the ballot papers. But if you look at the numbers of people that voted it signifies fatigue in the electorate,” he said.
“When statistics from harmonised elections and by-elections are compared, there is a clear disparity, and while it can be argued that by-elections attract fewer voters, one would have expected disenfranchised people to return to vote in vengeance for their recalled councillors, but this was not the case.”
Magugu added that another factor to issue was the electorate could also have been confused on what exactly is taking place politically in Zimbabwe ever since August 23, 2023.
“We came from elections in August and barely three months down the line, there are new polls. Then opposition parties’ communication lines and resource-base are weak since they did not have much time to educate the electorate and fund their campaigns, which if not addressed can result in more electoral losses in the near future,” warned the political analyst.
The results of the council by-elections
Ward 1 Bulawayo Central
Zanu PF Josiah Mutangi – 952
CCC Shepherd Sithole – 655
ZAPU Don Masombuka Sikhosana – 26
EFF Laurey Tshuma – 9
Ward 6 Cowdray Park
CCC Nkosinathi Mpofu Hove – 890
Zanu PF Kidwell Mujuru – 624
CCC Fikezweni Nyoni – 195
FA Nkosikhona Nyoni – 22
ZCPD Mandizwidza Mugumbate – 12
Ward 9 Mpopoma
CCC Donaldon Mabutho – 1 639
Zanu PF Lovemore Munyamana – 554
Independent Sihle Murenda – 39
ZAPU Sibongile Ncube – 33
Independent Jourbert Mangena – 32
Ward 18 Lobengula-Magwegwe
CCC Felix Takunda Madzana – 718
Zanu PF Sikhanyiso Manyathela – 385
EFF Rodwell Sibanda – 47
ZAPU Mark Finnity – 44
Ward 20 Pelandaba-Tshabalala
Zanu PF Sandra Sibindi – 1 106
CCC Simbarashe Dube – 782
CCC Micheal Gumede – 57
ZAPU Nomagugu Ndlovu – 11
Ward 21 Pelandaba-Tshabalala
CCC Tinevimbo Maphosa – 964
Zanu PF Makaita Janet Tekere – 400
CCC Andrew Nyathi – 74
Independent Godfrey Sibanda – 15
Ward 22 Nkulumane
CCC Mmeli Moyo – 975
Zanu PF Pride Moyo – 400
Independent Wringle Moyo – 80
CCC Mkhaliphi Tanaka Sibanda – 92
Ward 24 Nketa
CCC Arnold Batirai – 519
Zanu PF Tavengwa Zidya – 560
CCC Phumulani Sibanda – 268
Independent Esnat Bulayani – 70
FA Sipho Mthimkhulu – 39
Dunyiswa Ngwenya – 37
