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Zanu PF loses Masvingo Urban to MDC Alliance

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Zanu PF loses Masvingo Urban to MDC Alliance

Jacob Nyokanhete

Clayton Shereni

Masvingo Urban constituency has been won by Jacob Nyokanhete of the MDC-Alliance who defied the odds to beat the better-known and well-resourced Benjaman Taguma Mazarire of Zanu PF in the only parliamentary contest that the ruling party lost in the province.
Zanu PF won all the other 25 parliamentary seats in Masvingo, making Nyokanhete the only opposition man standing in the province, and rendering Mazarire the only loser from the ruling party side.
Nyokanhete won over 17 000 votes while Mazarire had over 12 000 votes.
An accountant with the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), Nyokanhete only became known to most voters when he emerged from virtual obscurity in active party politics to contest and win the MDC-T Chamisa faction’s Masvingo Urban primary elections.
He stood in the primaries after Takanayi Mureyi, who had gone uncontested, suddenly withdrew saying he had been offered a national post by the party leadership.
Meanwhile, the MDC-Alliance has also won most votes in the Masvingo Urban local government elections, taking seven out of 10 wards, an improvement from the previous six.top news

MDC Alliance candidate wakes up to bullet casings on doorstep

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MDC Alliance candidate wakes up to bullet casings on doorstep

TellZim Reporter
MDC Alliance parliamentary candidate for Chivi Central in the just ended elections, Henry Chivhanga is living in fear after he woke up to a dreadful sight of bullet casings dumped at his home in Masvingo.
This happened early yesterday morning, Sunday August 5, at Chivhanga’s house in Takazvivakira St in Majange.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not received the report although Chivhanga maintains he reported the matter at Chesvingo Police Base near Yeukai Shopping Centre.
“My wife woke up in the morning to do her chores and was horrified to see bullet casings outside the door. We are law-abiding people who don’t deserve this. We hope the police will swiftly do their work and bring the perpetrators to book,” said Chivhanga in a phone interview.
Earlier on, Chivhanga had taken to Twitter about the incident, writing that he was at a police station reporting the matter.
“My name is Henry Chivhanga, and I was the @MDCAllianceZW candidate for Chivi Central constituency. My wife just found bullet casings outside our door. I am at the police making a report right now. Maybe this was some sort of warning?” reads the tweet, which was accompanied by a picture of eight bullet casing on a silver foil.
A follow up tweet reads, “We made our police report. Ref 8715/18. Thank you to all who are praying for us and our safety. In God we put our hope and trust. We go to sleep tonight hoping that whoever planted the bullet casings will not come back to ‘finish’ what he/she started. Pray for Zimbabwe.”
The incident comes as other opposition members and supporters have alleged victimisation which includes intimidation, beatings and abduction by suspected State security agents.
Chivhanga lost the race for the Chivi Central parliamentary seat to Zanu PF’s Ephraim Gwanongodza.
He has alleged a suspiciously high number of assisted voters in the constituency, pointing to the possibility of vote rigging.topnews

US State Dept issues first statement on Zim election

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US State Dept issues first statement on Zim election

…condemns post-election violence
 TellZim Reporter
The United States State Department yesterday, 03 August, spoken on the conduct of the Zimbabwe’s recent elections, praising the peaceful voting process but condemning the violence that erupted in Harare on Monday.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert says it was unfortunate that what began as a peaceful process had later degenerated into violence.
“The Zimbabwean people turned out massively to cast their votes, underscoring their aspirations for a better future, despite challenges during the pre-election period.
“Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s success in delivering an election day that was peaceful, and open to international observers, was subsequently marred by violence and a disproportionate use of deadly force against protesters by security forces.
“We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured and appeal to the leaders of all parties to urge their supporters to act peacefully.
“The United States welcomes the commitment by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release comprehensive election results in a form that provides full transparency. The United States will continue to review the data collected by its own observation teams, international observation missions, and by local observers to make a complete assessment of the overall election,” the statement reads.
It also urges all stakeholders to peacefully seek the address of any grievances they may have, and to do so through the established legal channels.
“The United States remains focused on working with Zimbabwe as its people and government strive toward still-needed comprehensive electoral, political, economic, and human rights reforms,” it reads.topnews

I won Gweru Urban but ground was not fair – Dube

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I won Gweru Urban but ground was not fair – Dube

Itai Muzondo
GWERU – MDC Alliance’s winning parliamentary candidate for Gweru Urban, Brian Dube has said his victory came against huge odds that were stacked against the opposition.
Dube won the race by 17 928 against his closest rival; Esau Natare of Zanu PF who garnered a total of 7 142 votes.
Speaking to TellZim News, Dube said there were a lot of anomalies that marred the elections, adding that the polls had dismally failed the test of credibility, freeness and fairness.
“I am happy I won but I am still troubled by how the Zimbabwe Election Commission (Zec) handled affairs before and during the polls. A good example is how they turned a deaf ear to our reasonable requests for the final voters’ roll as well as the opaqueness surrounding the printing, security and distribution of ballot papers.
“Currently, as results are being announced, there are a lot of issues being raised by our people on the ground but Zec does not care,” said Dube.
“I can’t speak much as most issues that trouble us as MDC Alliance have been noted in reports from monitors,” he added.
Dube also said people who demonstrated in Harare over what he called Zec’s clear bias against the MDC Alliance were justified as they were practicing their right to assembly.
TellZim News also caught up with independent candidate, Nkosikona Ndlovu who said he accepted defeat.
He said he strongly agreed with Dube’s sentiments that several aspects of the electoral environment and the voting process itself had countless anomalies.
“I lost and I accept the result as I have always said this campaign is part of my 15-year plan to get into the hearts of Gweru people. In the process, I will continue working with them regardless of my current loss.
“I however expect better from Zec in future elections because much of the anomalies started on the day of the nomination court. I expect a lot of improvement in how elections are administered in the country if Zec is to regain our trust as citizens,” Ndlovu said.local

ED’s first empty election promise

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ED’s first empty election promise

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Upenyu Chaota
President Emmerson Mnangagwa in June charmed the people of Masvingo at his provincial star rally held at Mucheke Stadium grounds when he made a bold promise to reopen the local Cold Storage Company (CSC) plant that was shut down years ago.
Mnangagwa told thpusands of supporters who thronged Mucheke Stadium for his address that the plant was to be opened on July 31 but it’s now August and nothing has happened.
Addressing thousands of party supporters then, Mnangagwa said some former CSC workers were already being called back to their jobs and more will be recruited.
“There is CSC which used to be a big employer here in Masvingo but it closed many years ago. We are, in a week’s time, going to sign an agreement with an investor we met in Davos and they will give us the money so we can revive the company.
“I went at the site and saw that they had already begun some renovations and former workers have been called back to work.
“On 31 July, a day after voting, that is when CSC will open and begin operations. So let’s focus on things that brings employment for our people,” said Mnangagwa amid wild cheers from the crowd. 
The current situation on the ground has not changed and CSC remains a sleeping giant. Its huge cold rooms are being used as warehouses for furniture companies such as TV Sales and Home and Teecherz Furnishers.
People who spoke to TellZim News said Mnangagwa lied about CSC just to lure votes but the time frame was not feasible.
“It was election period and candidates would say anything just to get votes. We hoped the President was being sincere in his promise but we later discovered it was just a dummy.
“We were very hopeful because the President repeated that economics first and we believed him. Many people went to CSC to apply for jobs but they said they were not hiring,” said one disgruntled job seeker.
A former CSC employee said they went back to their employer after they heard the President saying the company was rehiring former employees but was shocked when the management professed ignorance over the matter.
“I had high hopes of getting a job because I was with the company when it closed shop but they told us they were not hiring anyone and for them to be opening any time soon was next to impossible and no money came from any investor,” he said.
Towards the end of 2017, deputy minister of Agriculture Davis Marapira said government had secured an investment partner who was ready to release US$20 million for the revival of the plant, but nothing happened ever since.top news

‘Mr Bin’ loses Makoni Central to MDC Alliance

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‘Mr Bin’ loses Makoni Central to MDC Alliance
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 gets one vote in Masvingo

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

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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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Zaka North man dies soon after voting
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

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