CCC beats Zanu-PF in Matebeleland South

THE opposition Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) defeated Zanu-PF in the two wards by-elections held at the weekend in Bulilima, Matebeleland South province.

Bulilima held by-elections on Saturday in wards 1, 14, and 16 which include places like Malalume, Malopa, Malanswazi, Tjaguta, Tshankwa, Dombolevu and part of Gotshompo.

Five political parties participated in the by-elections.

The by-elections were proclaimed after the resignation of Zanu-PF councillors, Tonny Mlotshwa and Ntungamili Dube, and the death of Delani Mabhena.

Ward 1 candidates were Darlington Moyo of PPP, Ephraim Moyo of CCC, Kossam Ndlovu of Zanu-PF and Lingiwe Nyoni.

Ward 14's candidates were Experience Dube of Zanu-PF, Ephraim Moyo of CCC and Linos Moyo of Zapu.

In ward 16, there was Jane Moyo of Zanu-PF, Hitman Ncube of Zapu and Makhadi Moyo of CCC.

Election results show that in ward 16, CCC's Moyo won the polls with 131 votes, followed by Zanu-PF's Moyo with 118 votes. Zapu's Ncube managed to get 34 votes.

In ward 1, CCC's Moyo won by 385 votes, followed by Zanu-PF's Ndlovu with 315, CGC's Nyoni got seven votes, while PPP's Darlington Moyo got 12 votes.

Ward 14 was won by Zanu-PF's Dube who got 459 votes, followed by Moyo of CCC with 332 votes and Moyo of Zapu with 18 votes.

Yesterday, CCC Matabeleland South chairperson Solani Moyo confirmed winning ward 1 and 16, adding that there were efforts to rig, but his party countered the shenanigans.

"We won wards 1 and 16, but there were a lot of things happening that could have triggered a defeat on our part," he said.