Mashonaland East Puts Zanu PF in Control in the Province
By Lawrence Paganga
Marondera – A total of 386 473 voters managed to cast their votes on Monday in Mashonaland East province, in an election that saw Zanu PF winning 21 out of the 23 contested parliamentary seats.
The other two seats in Marondera Central and Goromonzi South went to the MDC Alliance. The MDC Alliance also won 11 of the local council seats in Marondera Town while Zanu PF managed to clinch only one seat.
Announcing the results this week, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) provincial elections officer, Collins Munesti said a staggering 28 883 voters in the province were assisted to cast their votes. According to Munetsi, reasons for helping the voters to cast their votes were due to old age or illiteracy.
At least 6 024 people were turned away in the province for not carrying valid identity documents or not appearing on the voters’ roll.
In 2013, Zanu PF won all the 23 parliamentary seats in Mashonaland East and nine of the 12 local council seats in Marondera Town.
Monday’s election saw Labour Minister Petronella Kangonye losing the election to Reuben Chikudo of MDC Alliance in Goromonzi South. In Marondera Central, academic and college principal, Cleopas Kundiona of Zanu PF lost to Caston Matewu of the MDC Alliance.
In Goromonzi West, Luke Tamborinyoka, the former presidential spokesperson to the now late MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai lost to musician and businessman, Energy Mutodi of Zanu PF. The MDC Alliance had fielded two candidates in Goromonzi North due to differences during the party’s primary elections in May.
Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Joel Biggie Matiza emerged the winner in Murewa South where he was facing a stiff challenge from an independent candidate, Noah Mangondo.
Other ruling party candidates who won in Mashonaland East are, Mabel Chinomona, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament in last House of Assembly and Zanu PF national Women’s League chairperson who was contesting in Mutoko North, prominent lawyer, Jonathan Samukange in Mudzi South, businessman Ozias Bvute, Simbaneuta Mudarikwa in Uzumba and Sekai Nzenza in Chikomba East.