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‘Mr Bin’ loses Makoni Central to MDC Alliance

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Patrick Chinamasa
…his deputy walloped in Harare East
Shingirai Vambe
RUSAPE– Zanu PF politburo member and Finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa has suffered humiliation after losing his Makoni Central parliamentary seat to MDC Alliance’s David Tekeshe.
Figures released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) showed that Chinamsa polled 9 256 votes against his challenger’s 12 531.
Chinamasa had become very unpopular in the constituency as people accused him of not being a good representative, and failing to use his enormous influence in the ruling party and the government to bring development.
He was often accused of only coming back to the people towards elections, and then disappear to Harare when elected into office.
Chinamasa becomes one of the few ruling party bigwigs who lost their parliamentary seats to the opposition in the hotly contested elections.
Labour minister, Petronella Kagonye lost Goromonzi South to Reuben Chikudo of MDC Alliance, Tshinga Dube lost Makokoba to James Sithole of MDC Alliance, and Chris Mutsvangwa failed to win back Norton from independent candidate Themba Mliswa.
Recently, Chinamasa was widely derided after he came to Rusape to preside over the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a skip bin, and pictures of him posing for photographs went viral on social media, earning for himself the nickname ‘Mr Bin’.
On his part, Tekeshe received a boost to his campaign when MDC alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa endorsed him while addressing thousands of party supporters during a rally at Vengere Stadium recently.
Other notable Zanu PF politicians who lost their seats are Terrence Mukupe who lost Harare East to Tendai Biti and Jaison Passade who lost Mt Pleasant to Samuel Banda. Mukupe is Chinamasa’s deputy at the Ministry of Finance.politics

Brian Muteki gets one vote in Masvingo

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Brian Muteki

Upenyu Chaota
One of the 22 presidential aspirants, Brian Taurai Muteki, managed to get one vote in Masvingo Urban constituency beating some of the other candidates who got a bunch of zeroes in all the constituency’s ten wards.
Muteki got zeros in nine wards but changed his fortunes in Ward 8 where one person cast his ballot to his favour.
Most candidates on the long list of presidential candidates got zeros.
Muteki is not new to politics, in 2004 he pulled out of the Zanu PF primaries in the 11th hour and paved way for Joseph Chinotimba in Buhera South.
When he filed for nomination as an independent presidential candidate, many thought he was just joking but he told the media soon after filing his papers that everyone wants to be a president.
However results in Masvingo are not so promising for the presidential aspirant.top news

3 Zaka traditional leaders win on Zanu PF ticket

Festus Dumbu


TellZim Reporter

ZAKA – Three village heads in Zaka West wards 27 and 28 and 32 have contested and won elections on a Zanu PF ticket, a development that has been criticised by opposition candidates who said traditional leaders must not dabble in politics.
The three traditional leaders are Ernest Mandava and Benjamin Chikuni; of Ward 27 and Ward 28 respectively, and Tumai Madzikona who contested in Ward 31.
MDC-Alliance Zaka West parliamentary candidate, Festas Dumbu told TellZim News during the election period that the issue had been raised with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) but no action was taken.
“We have raised the issue with Zec but they kept on dragging their feet. This has compromised the credibility of this election because the electorate is being intimidated to vote for these village heads and their party,” said Dumbu.
Another village head, Kefas Magadzire – who is Nedowa village head – was on Monday reported to have worked as a ruling party election agent in the constituency.
Similar cases of village heads being fielded as party agents were reported in Chivi where Elias Tsonani of Chesimba D was an agent at Dzingirai Primary School
in Ward 29.
In ward 27, Gilbert Chikanda from village 3B was also an agent at Nyahumbe Primary School.politics

Zaka North man dies soon after voting

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File pic

TellZim Reporter

ZAKA- A man from Zaka North is reported to have died on his way back home from Gumbo Clinic polling station where he had just voted.
A TellZim News citizen journalist in the district reported that the 70 year-old man (name withheld as relatives were yet to be notified) from Mudhambi village, died on his home soon after casting his vote at the Gumbo Clinic tent.
He collapsed and died on the spot and his body was still in the bush by the time of publishing as the police were yet to visit the scene.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula could not be reached for comment by the time of publishing.local

Zaka traditional leaders contest on Zanu PF ticket

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Image result for Zec logo pic
TellZim Reporter
ZAKA – Two village heads in Zaka West wards 27 and 28 are said to be contesting to be councillors, a development that has been criticised by opposition candidates who say traditional leaders must not dabble in politics.
Speaking to TellZim News soon after casting his vote at Rudhanda High School, MDC Alliance Zaka West parliamentary candidate, Festus Dumbu expressed his disappointment at Zec’s failure to disqualify two Zanu PF aspiring councillors, Ernest Mandava (Ward 27) and Benjamin Chikuni.
“Traditional leaders should be apolitical. We have two village heads, Ernest Mandava and Benjamin Chikuni contesting to be concillors on Zanu PF tickets in Ward 27 and 28. Kefas Magadzire, the village head of Nedowa is also a polling agent.
“We have raised the issue with Zec but they kept on dragging their feet. This has compromised the credibility of this election because the electorate is being intimidated to vote for these village heads and their party,” said Dumbu.
Efforts to get comment from Zec district elections officer were fruitless by the time of publishing.politics

Female voters ‘hiring’ babies to jump Qs

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TellZim Reporter
There are reports from many polling stations in Masvingo province that some women are ‘lending’ babies to each other or hiring them for a small fee so that they can be allowed to jump slow-moving queues.
There is a provision allowing nursing mothers be given preferential treatment at polling stations such that they are not required to join the ordinary queues.
TellZim News has, however, gathered that this facility is being abused by some women who are allegedly ‘hiring’ their friends, relatives and even strangers’ babies for this purpose alone.
There was pandemonium at Shakashe Primary School polling station AB this morning when a woman was asked to go out and join the slow-moving ordinary queue following suspicions that she had hired a baby. The baby had cried uncontrollably but the woman failed to calm him down and give him suckle.
At Sally Mugabe Preschool, Gutu Central Ward 34, there were loud complaints from agitated voters who alleged babies were changing hands.
Similar reports were received from Ward 4 Masvingo Urban and Jerera growth point, Zaka Central, where hiring a baby was said to be costing US$5.
At Dikwindi Primary School, Ward 6, a well-known kombi driver faked blindness so that he could be allowed to jump the queue. He was busted by other voters who shouted him away as he was about to get into the polling station.local

Shambolic voters’ roll angers voters

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         A meandering queue at Runyararo primary School

…mixed up names not in alphabetical order
TellZim Reporter
Many voters at polling stations in Masvingo Urban are being send from pillar to post as their names cannot be easily found in the voters’ roll.
The problem is more noticeable at Shakashe Primary School, but also at Rujeko Primary School, where the polling stations are divided into four and three respectively.
At Runyararo Primary polling station, Ward 4 – which is divided into six – many people were recorded as turned away because they had got into the wrong queue.
At these polling stations, many people complained they had been told to join a new queue because their names could not be found in a particular sub-polling station’s roll.
“This is my second queue and I have been here since 06:30. I think they want to frustrate us into leaving before voting,” said one young woman who claimed to be a first time voter.
Another voter said he was surprised that his polling station was different from his mother’s, although they shared the same surname.
“We got into polling station AA and my mother was allowed to vote there, but I was referred to another queue, although we share the same surname,” said the voter.
Presiding officers also acknowledged that they were facing enormous problems due to mixed up names.
“We had expected to find the names in alphabetical order but everything is mixed up. It’s taking too long to find a voter’s name but we are doing our best. We understand the frustration in the queues,” said one presiding officer.
At the Rujeko Admin polling station, one voter said it took him a solid three hours to get into the booth.
There was, however, virtually no queue at the Civic Centre at around noon, with 186 having voted in A at 11:58 and 200 in B as at 10:00. There were three assisted voters and 16 turned away voters in A, zero assisted voters and eight turned away voters in B.topnews

Why I am contesting as an independent

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…disabled aspiring Cllr speaks on why he didn’t join any party

Brighton Chiseva
Aspiring councillor for Masvingo Urban Ward 5, Vengai Kurunzirwa said he decided to contest as an independent because seeking a ticket from any political party entails humiliation and involvement in dirty politics.
Kurunzirwa, who is wheel-chair bound, said many political parties lack empathy for people with disabilities, meaning that he would still have been subjected to the same chaotic processes that marred primary elections.
“Some of us cannot hustle and tussle. If you look at the manner in which the biggest political parties conducted their primary elections, you would see that they are not a good home for people with disabilities. In some instances, there was a lot of pushing and shoving as well as savage fist fights that I would not be able to do,” said Kurunzirwa.
He also said many people in political parties see a disabled person seeking a political party ticket as a charity case.
“They look down upon you and think you are just there to beg, and not to offer anything tangible. They do not believe we are capable people who can deliver if given a chance,” said Kurunzirwa, who is an accountant by training.
“If a partisan candidate wins, he or she would first seek to serve those from his/her own political party but if – as an independent – I win, I would quickly move to serve the community that elevated me. I would not beholden to anybody and it’s only the people who can recall me if they feel I am not doing the job well,” he said.politics

No joy for political violence perpetrators, police warn

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Ass Comm Makedenge

TellZim Reporter
Authorities will strongly oppose bail and seek the fast-tracking the trial of perpetrators of political violence before, during and after the July 30 elections, a senior officer in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Masvingo province has said.
Speaking at a Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)-organised discussion between the police and journalists on Friday, July 27, Assistant Commissioner Crispen Makedenge – who is responsible for police operations in the province – warned against provocation, intimidation, violence and other forms of electoral malpractice.
“As police together with other relevant stakeholders, we are going to speed up the finalisation of cases of politically-motivated violence. In Masvingo, we already have special courts set-up by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) together with the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) to deal decisively with political violence without fear or favour,” Ass Comm Makedenge said.
He said police will strongly oppose bail for those implicated in political violence as a way of sending a serious message to would-be offenders. Ass Com also called for greater cooperation and understanding between the police and media for the safety of journalists and the wider community this election time.
At another press discussion organised by Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) later in the day, candidates contesting for the Masvingo Urban parliamentary seat hailed local media for giving them fair coverage.
“We appreciate TellZim News, Hevoi FM and Wezhira Community Radio for allotting us space in their programming and covering our campaigns,” said Francis Nyakurita, who is standing on a People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC) ticket.
National Patriotic Front (NPF) candidate, Michael Taderera thanked local journalists for what he said were their remarkable objectivity.
“The work you are doing is good. I have received fair coverage right from the day of the nomination court. There is, however, room for improvement so that people can make more informed choices on election day,” said Taderera.
The sentiments were echoed by Herbert Chikosi, who represented MDC Alliance candidate; Jacob Nyokanhete, as well as by Sam Chapfundza, who is running as an independent.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF was more visible than any other party today, July 28, with loud yet peaceful campaigning and roadshows around the city.local

ZIPP leader appeals for Masvingo vote

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The Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP) leader, Dr Blessing Kasiyamhuru in Masvingo CBD

Bothwell Chabarika
The Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP) leader, Dr Blessing Kasiyamhuru has made an appeal to Masvingo residents to vote for him in the forthcoming July 30 harmonised elections.
Kasiyamhuru said this after he met with TellZim News reporters in the CBD on Thursday July 26, 2018 when he was touring the city, as part of his campaign.
The ZIPP president promised a number of positive change to the country if people voted for him, pledging to bring development to Masvingo by recognising the city as a tourism hub.
He also promised to prioritise the upgrading of the Beitbridge-Chirundu highway, saying Masvingo deserved better than it was currently getting.
“We want to build a Zimbabwe that will be in a position to export rather than to import and we are looking forward to make Masvingo a tourism hub that will be a centre of attraction to people from various areas of the world. We are looking forward to reducing traffic jams in Masvingo by creating better road networks. Masvingo is a special city,” said Kasiyamhuru.
The youthful politician promised to put to an end all problems that Zimbabweans are facing at the moment. He mentioned the issue of the economy and the joblessness that he said will be put to an end once he got elected as president.
The 45-year-old opposition leader said he acknowledged the contribution of the older generation in gaining the country independence from white minority colonial rule, but pointed out that the future was now more important than the past.
Kasiyamhuru told TellZim News that he regarded Masvingo as his home since he attended school at Gokomere CPS and secondary schools.top news