HARARE – Zanu PF held onto the Mangwe parliamentary seat while the MDC also retained Glenview South in by-elections held on Saturday.
Hlanani Mguni won the Mangwe seat in a by-election to replace her late husband, Obedingwa Mguni, who died in June.
She polled 5,553 votes to beat closest challenger Vincent Sihlalo of the MDC who took 2,210 votes.
Mguni’s tally was 47.22 percent down or 3,191 less compared to the July 2018 results when her husband carried the constituency.
Raphael George Kositsile of the MDC-T had 266 votes; Matthew Sibanda of ZAPU 148; Tommy Zinkabi Ncube (Independent) 110; Edmand Nleya of the Mthwakazi Republic Party 60; Phumuzile Varaidzo Phiri of LEAD 49 and Lizwe Dlomo of the NCA 45 votes.
In Glenview South, Vincent Tsvangirai prevailed with 3,474 votes, taking over a seat that fell vacant following the death of her sister, Vimbai, in June.
Offard Muchuwe of Zanu PF polled 1,534 votes.
Tsvangirai’s winning tally was 35 percent down on his sister’s tally from a year ago.
Smaller parties fared badly in Glenview, with the candidate coming third, Phillip Chamunorwa Ndengu, an independent, polling just 64 votes.
Edwin Milton of LEAD had 58 votes; Ellah Zisani of UANC 34; Rosemary Nyamayedenga of Free Zim Congress 31; Crispen Rateiwa 17; Maxwell Kasema 14 and Parlington Pikelele of UANC managed eight votes.
In a local authority by-election in Masvingo Rural District Council ward 1, Zanu PF’s Richard Kudakwashe Murambiwa won with 1,166 votes. The MDC’s Escort Chawatama polled 334 votes.
The council seat fell vacant following the death of Zanu PF councillor Ephraim Chinamasa in July.
