…Musikavanhu, Tongofa, Gwanetsa, Masiya out
…Chakona, Chivange, Mawere lose again
…Zvobgo Junior finally in
…Marapira finds new political home in Zaka Central
…Chadzamira, Chiduwa, Togarepi maintain grip
…Only two women sail through
Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO–Results of the Zanu PF internal polls held last week were finally released after days of waiting anxiously, bringing joy and sorrow among contestants with some of those who lost claiming that the election was not free and fair.
For the first time, Zanu PF relaxed its conditions on the candidate selection allowing almost everyone who submitted a CV a chance to contest, a development which saw the likes of former MDC stalwart Tongai Matutu being allowed to contest in the recently gazetted Mwenezi North constituency.
The noble development however saw a number of the party’s heavy weights, old guard as well as most sitting MPs biting the dust and falling by the wayside with new faces emerging from the primary elections.
The development could either work for or against Zanu PF. It may work for the party in the sense that it has been a little bit free allowing everyone who wants to contest a chance unlike in previous cases where new comers and young candidates were vetted out to pave way for the old guard.
Some of the losing candidates are alleging rigging of the election and are contemplating to do a ‘Bhora Musango’ during the general election.
In Masvingo province, 10 sitting MPs lost to young and new entrants that pulled shockers to the surprise of the old guard who were relaxing, thinking that they had the electorate in their hands.
Only 10 out of 25 sitting MPs still have a chance to go back to Parliament as constituency MPs with six having won in their respective constituencies and four contesting in newly created constituencies.
In Chivi South, Munyaradzi Zizhou’s world crumbled on him as he broke the record to become one of the shortest serving MPs in the province losing to Felix Maburutse.
Zizhou came in only last year in March 2022 after winning the by-election following the recall of then MP Killer Zivhu and his demise could be testimony that he failed to live up to his promises within the short stint he has been MP.
In Chivi Central, businessman Exavier Maoneke better known as Wezhas secured the ticket to represent the party after a tight contest of new comers as the incumbent Ephraim Gwanongodza decided not to contest for a third term having been MP since 2013.
In Chivi North, the sitting MP Mathias Tongofa lost his chance for re-election to Chivi Rural District Council chairperson Godfrey Mukungunugwa who is one of Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira’s closest allies.
In Masvingo district, Chadzamira retained his seat in Masvingo West and Bryan Mudhumi won in Masvingo North, whose sitting MP Davis Marapira traced back his roots to his home in Zaka where he contested and won in Zaka Central.
Former teacher Claudious Maronge’s dream for a second term were shattered after he lost to Tanatswa Mukomberi in Masvingo South.
In Masvingo Central, Edson Zvobgo Junior finally got in after two attempts, in the same constituency and another in Masvingo Urban.
He seeks to take over from Edmund Mhere who served for two terms in the same constituency and is seeking refuge in the district senatorial slot.
In Masvingo Urban, Masvingo City Deputy Mayor Welington Mahwende will represent the party after defeating James Pande while the shadow MP Benjamin Taguma Mazarire who lost to MDC-Alliance’s Jacob Nyokanhete tried his luck and lost in Masvingo Central.
Gutu district retained most of its sitting MPs with Minister of Mines Winston Chitando and Zanu PF national youth boss John Paradza sailing through uncontested in Gutu Central and West respectively.
Chitando had no competitor at all while Paradza’s rival Mutonho Mutonho was disqualified since he had some pending disciplinary issues.
In Gutu South, sitting MP and Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi won another chance to represent the party while George Vhengere won in Gutu East with the sitting MP Beritha Chikwama having stepped down.
Collapsed Gutu North’s Yeukai Simbanegavi went to the women’s quota where she won uncontested.
Bikita district saw all the three incumbents, Johnson Madhuku (Bikita East), Josiah Sithole (Bikita South) and Elias Musakwa (Bikita West) losing to Zevezai Koti, Energy Mutodi and Nhatiso Makusha respectively.
In Chiredzi South Callisto Gwanetsa lost to Jowell Sithole and Denford Masiya lost to Siyaki Hama in Chiredzi East. Chiredzi West’s former MP Darlington Chiwa bounced back with the incumbent Farai Musikavanhu who had moved to newly created Chiredzi Central losing to former Chiredzi Town Council Chairperson Francis Moyo. Roy Billa retained his Chiredzi North constituency.
In Mwenezi, Priscilla Zindari Moyo who is wife to CIO boss Isaac Moyo retained Mwenezi West and new comer Sheilla Chikomo will represent Zanu PF in Mwenezi East.
Mwenezi East’s sitting MP Master Makope, who was elected in last year’s by-elections following the death of Joosbi Omar in 2020, moved to Mwenezi delimitation’s new baby Mwenezi North where he defeated former Masvingo Urban MDC Alliance legislator Tongai Matutu who defected to Zanu PF.
In Zaka district, collapsed Zaka East MP Clemence Chiduwa who contested in the newly created Zaka South which comprises of mainly Zaka East and collapsed Zaka West wards will represent the party after garnering 8 678 votes, which is probably the highest number of votes across the whole Masvingo province.
In Zaka Central, Marapira won after defeating the sitting MP David Svuure who came third in the race with ward 13 councillor Manfred Mada who was eyeing a higher post settling for second position.
In Zaka North, Ophias Murambiwa will get a chance for a second term in Parliament after he was moved from Zaka West which was collapsed with the delimitation exercise and found himself in the North.
Murambiwa who is popularly known as Maga Maga pulled a shocker after defeating former Zaka Central MP Paradzai Chakona who had found solace in the North and had been campaigning for some time having been tipped to take over by the sitting MP Robson Mavhenyengwa who made a right decision of contesting in the Senate where he won instead of seeking a third term.
