CCC factions lost 3 council seats to Zanu-PF in Bulawayo

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) lost three of the eight council seats it had won in August to Zanu-PF after five of its recalled councillors retained their seats from the eight contested wards in Saturday's by-elections in Bulawayo.

The ruling party took the remaining three from the contested wards and analysts have warned that if the "disorganisation" and in the opposition party continues, which is exposed by "lack of better tactics," Zanu-PF will grab more seats in urban areas.

Zanu-PF won in Ward 1, where its Nehanda District Chairperson Josiah Mutangi, also a leader of vendors operating in the market square defeated Shepherd Sithole.

The ruling party also won Ward 21 where this time around songstress Sandra Ndebele defeated Simbarashe Dube and conquered Ward 24 where Arnold Batirai lost.

Meanwhile, the five winning CCC councillors were Nkosinathi Mpofu Hove from Ward 6, Donaldon Mabuto from Ward 9, Felix Takunda Madzana Ward 18, Tinevimbo Maphosa from Ward 21 and Ward Mmeli Moyo 22.

In an interview with CITE Political analyst Bernard Magugu said the "chaos" in the CCC and the "organised Zanu-PF onslaught" on the opposition party could have contributed to the outcome of the results.

"The confusion after the removal of the CCC MPs' candidates also contributed to the CCC's loss as voters were asking themselves if the recalled councillors would be on the ballot papers. But if you look at the numbers of people that voted it signifies fatigue in the electorate," he said.

"When statistics from harmonised elections and by-elections are compared, there is a clear disparity, and while it can be argued that by-elections attract fewer voters, one would have expected disenfranchised people to return to vote in vengeance for their recalled councillors, but this was not the case."

Magugu added that another factor to issue was the electorate could also have been confused on what exactly is taking place politically in Zimbabwe ever since August 23, 2023.

"We came from elections in August and barely three months down the line, there are new polls. Then opposition parties' communication lines and resource-base are weak since they did not have much time to educate the electorate and fund their campaigns, which if not addressed can result in more electoral losses in the near future," warned the political analyst.

The results of the council by-elections

Ward 1 Bulawayo Central

 Zanu-PF Josiah Mutangi -  952

CCC Shepherd Sithole  - 655

ZAPU Don Masombuka Sikhosana - 26

EFF Laurey Tshuma - 9


Ward 6 Cowdray Park

CCC Nkosinathi Mpofu Hove - 890

Zanu-PF Kidwell Mujuru  - 624

CCC Fikezweni Nyoni - 195

FA Nkosikhona Nyoni - 22

ZCPD Mandizwidza Mugumbate - 12

Ward 9 Mpopoma

CCC Donaldon Mabutho - 1 639

Zanu-PF Lovemore Munyamana -  554

Independent Sihle Murenda - 39

ZAPU Sibongile Ncube - 33

Independent  Jourbert Mangena - 32

Ward 18  Lobengula-Magwegwe

CCC Felix Takunda Madzana - 718

Zanu-PF Sikhanyiso Manyathela - 385

EFF Rodwell Sibanda - 47

ZAPU Mark Finnity - 44

Ward 20 Pelandaba-Tshabalala

Zanu-PF Sandra Sibindi  - 1 106

 CCC Simbarashe Dube  - 782

CCC Micheal Gumede - 57

ZAPU Nomagugu Ndlovu - 11

Ward 21 Pelandaba-Tshabalala

CCC Tinevimbo Maphosa - 964

Zanu-PF Makaita Janet Tekere - 400

CCC Andrew Nyathi  - 74

Independent Godfrey Sibanda - 15

Ward 22 Nkulumane

CCC Mmeli Moyo - 975

Zanu-PF Pride Moyo - 400

Independent  Wringle Moyo - 80

CCC Mkhaliphi Tanaka Sibanda - 92

Ward 24 Nketa

CCC Arnold Batirai - 519

Zanu-PF Tavengwa Zidya - 560

CCC Phumulani Sibanda - 268

Independent Esnat Bulayani - 70

FA Sipho Mthimkhulu - 39

Dunyiswa Ngwenya - 37