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Kazembe's victory a bonus for the opposition

by Simbarashe Sithole
30 Dec 2021 at 04:58hrs | Views
MDC Alliance supporters in Mashonaland Central are reportedly upbeat following the unconfirmed election victory of ZANU PF Mashonaland Central province chairman Kazembe Kazembe.


Kazembe is said to have retained his post by securing 20968 votes against his rival Tafadzwa Musarara who garnered 17709 votes.

MDC Alliance chairman  for Mashonaland Central province George Gwarada told Bulawayo24.com that ZANU PF no longer commands support as highlighted by voter apathy in Mvurwi and other urban areas whose local authorities are controlled by the MDC. 

Kazembe lost his  party's strongest districts and urban area vote as he managed to win  3 districts and 5 districts voted in favour of Musarara out of a total of 8 districts.

It appears Kazembe's victory has been welcomed by the opposition as he does not enjoy grassroots support

"Kazembe lost in the ZANU PF biggest districts that shows that people are now fed up  and judging from president Chamisa's Mash Central tour the MDC Alliance is making inroads in the so-called Zanu PF stronghold," Gwarada.

He also spoke on the rigging allegations which are being levelled against Kazembe saying that is the motto of ZANU PF where the minority rule the majority.

"The election was an internal affair but rigging is the modus operandi of ZANU PF the allegations are very difficult to wipe them off.  The norm with ZANU PF is the minority rule the majority, l cannot dwell much into ZANU PF internal issues  but watch the space 2023 Kazembe and Emmerson Mnangagwa will lose in the coming election," Gwarada added.

Another supporter said Kazembe is better as chairman as president Nelson Chamisa who is penetrating in Mashonaland Central was not met with violent disturbances during his meet the people tours a  characteristics feature in Chamisa's visits to other provinces.

"The purported results are good for us because it is clear that house ZANU PF is burning remember our president came here without hustles and conducted his rallies peacefully unlike in other provinces where he was harassed by ZANU PF thugs hence we will surely recover our lost seats in the province come 2023 MDC Alliance will take some seats," said Givemore Gweshe.

However, in the history of  ZANU PF Mashonaland Central there has never been a chairman who won the race without the support of Mount Darwin and Mazowe which are the two biggest districts.

It remains to be seen how the party leadership will decide on Mash Central results after reports of vote rigging were reported and state security agents were barred from observing elections by one Commissariat member Mharadzano who was allegedly siding with Kazembe.

Deputy  Minister of Agriculture and Mbire legislator Douglas Karoro is said to have directed villagers to cast their votes in favour of Kazembe. The current election was a litmus test for Kazembe as it was his first provincial election having previously secured the chairmanship by co- optation after the dismissal of former chairman Dick Mafios.

Source - Byo24News