…As three Chiredzi MPs fail to make it through Zanu PF primaries
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI-A South African-based business magnate and Chiredzi West Parliamentary aspirant had his hopes to become a parliamentarian dashed as he lost to a former Member of Parliament (MP) during the recently held Zanu PF primary elections on March 26, 2023.
It was a tale of two contrasting candidates with relatively wealthy Shingirayi Mubhoyi being defeated by Darlington Chiwa, who seemed to have slimmer chances.
While Chiwa emerged victorious, his former colleagues in Parliament Farai Musikavanhu (incumbent Chiredzi West MP), Denford Masiya (Chiredzi East) and Retired Brigadier General Kalisto Gwanetsa (Chiredzi South) failed to pass the primary elections test with Musikavanhu losing in newly gazetted Chiredzi Central.
Mubhoyi who seemed to be the system’s favourite going into the election, was popularly known for parading his top of the range vehicles with South Africa’s Gauteng Province registration plates in the sugarcane growing town, initially with an ambition to face the outspoken Chiredzi North Member of Parliament, Roy Bhila before the delimitation exercise, which left him with the charismatic Darlington Chiwa as a thorn in his flesh.
Mubhoyi, who was highly confident he was going to Parliament later this year, was defeated by Darlington Chiwa by 101 votes, with the two women, Mirriam Dhanda and Eustina Magocha scoring a collective 104 votes.
Tawanda Chisasa did well with 1 040 votes while the Education Inspector Norman Sharara trailed with 110 votes.
During their discussions as Chiredzi West contenders after some election irregularities which needed their attention were reported on the election’s first day, Mubhoyi is alleged to have bragged about his wealth.
“You guys are poor. You can just give me a million Rand and you will never see me again, I will withdraw from the election,” he allegedly said.
In Chiredzi Central, it was a battle for the giants, where mudslinging failed to materialize, with Francis Moyo defeating former Tongaat Huletts Agricultural Director and current Chiredzi West MP, Farai Musikavanhu.
In Chiredzi North, it was a walkover for Roy Bhila, becoming the first Zanu PF Member of Parliament to be re-elected for the second time in a row to represent the constituency.
Bhila’s chances to win the seat are much higher as no opposition candidate scores 10 percent votes in Chiredzi North.
In Chiredzi South, it did not go well for Brigadier General Gwanetsa, who served for two consecutive terms.
Renowned businessperson, Joel Sithole managed to get the ticket to represent the ruling party in Chiredzi South constituency in the upcoming general elections.
Gwanetsa fell by 1 545 votes from Sithole and 687 from Hahlani Makondo while being 837 votes ahead of Hahlani Habwane. Sithole faces a mammoth task ahead with Chilonga Bridge which has now taken the government 23 years to construct, waiting for him as well as disgruntled Chilonga villagers who are reportedly facing displacement threats from Dendairy, a Kwekwe-based company which is likely to develop close to 12 000 hectares for its Lucerne project.
Denford Masiya and Jevas Masosota lost to Primary School teacher Siyaki Mundungehama in Chiredzi East who was leading with 4 507 votes against Masiya’s 3 490 and Masosota’s 1 237.
Zanu PF District Secretary for Information Daniel Mawere, who contested in Chiredzi North, encouraged fallen cadres to give the winners the necessary support they need ahead of the watershed harmonized elections.
“No one has lost in our primary elections but the system has won. Primary elections are a Zanu PF culture to nurture democracy and helps in protecting our national values and ethos as a revolutionary entity.
“Let’s unite as one people, Zanu PF and focus our efforts to wrestle the seats from the opposition,” said Mawere.
All sitting Zanu PF councillors namely Obert Ngwenya (ward 2), Josphat Nzombe (ward 8), Liberty Macharaga (ward 1) and Blessings Mazinyani (ward 5) managed to sail through party primaries, with many who had flashed a lot of resources to represent the ruling party in the local authority being dismally defeated.
