Mnangagwa's Zanu-PF thrash Chamisa's MDC in Lupane by-election

Zanu-PF had a clean sweep in two local authority by-elections and a parliamentary vote held on Saturday in Matabeleland North.

Mthandazo Dube was confirmed winner as Zanu-PF held on to the Lupane East parliamentary seat vacant since Sithembile Gumbo died in April.

Zanu-PF also comfortably retained two council seats in Bubi Ward 22 and Nkayi Ward 23.

Dube polled 6,369 votes to beat closest challenger Dalumuzi Khumalo of the MDC who secured 4,505 votes.

The MDC-T's Given Ncube placed third with 363 votes; Andrew Tshaba of the Mthwakazi People's Republic was third with 81 votes and Gezekile Mkhwebu of ZAPU was fourth with 52 votes.

Nelson Mkandla of the National Action Party had 51 votes; Njabulo Sibanda of the National Patriotic Front polled 39 votes; Alice Sibanda of the National Constitutional Assembly secured 27 votes and Morgan Ndlovu of the Labour Economists and African Democrats Party brought the rear with 18 votes.

Lupane East has 14 wards and 20,495 registered voters.

In Bubi Ward 22, Zanu-PF's claimed victory with 449 votes to beat the MDC's Present Chile who polled 216 votes. The Labour Economists and African Democrats Party's Sylvester Zodziwa polled nine votes.

In Nkayi Ward 23, Zanu-PF's Qhubani Nyoni secured victory with 394 votes, beating the MDC's Bekezela Moyo into second with 176 votes as the MDC-T took third with 147 votes. The Mthwakazi People's Republic candidate had 16 votes.

The MDC's elections secretary Jacob Mafume said "coercion and manipulation were clearly the decisive factors" in the elections.

He accused Zanu-PF of vote buying, systematic intimidation and abuse of state resources.

"The people of Matabeleland North who voted for the MDC must be saluted for the resisting all the obstacles and going against all odds to support change in Zimbabwe," Mafume said.