HARARE – Independent candidates were swept away by the MDC Alliance in Monday’s general elections, according to unofficial results.

Outgoing Harare West MP Jessie Majome, who quit the Alliance to stand as in Independent over disagreements during primary elections; Fadzai Mahere, who ran a slick campaign for MP in Mt Pleasant in Harare and council candidates Evan Mawarire, Duduzile Nyirongo and Kudzai Mubaiwa all conceded defeat to MDC Alliance rivals even before results were officially announced.

All four five have a huge following on social media, but they found Zimbabweans still firmly vote along party lines.

“We consistently said that we’d win or we’d learn,” Mahere said on Twitter, where his campaign was particularly visible. “We’ve learnt that it’s important to take a stand, to speak up, to participate, to innovate, to challenge, to collaborate, to step outside one’s comfort zone and to be the change. We thank you ALL for your support. #ForeverYellow.”

Mahere’s main rivals were incumbent Jaison Passade of Zanu PF and the Alliance’s Samuel Banda, who is now projected to win the seat.

Mawere’s defeat triggered an outpouring of sympathy, but also an acknowledgement that Zimbabwean elections are seldom won on issues but political party lines.

Majome, a three-term MP,  said in a concession message to her former constituents: “Dear Harare Westerners – Well done to us for coming out to vote in pour numbers. A big and heart thank you to those who supported me in this election that made ours one of the most exciting races.

“As we await the results, it’s clear that democracy has won for Harare West. Asante sana.”

Majome lost out to Joanna Mamombe, the rival she would not contest in an internal party election, choosing instead to stand as an Independent.

Political analyst Glen Mpani said: “There is data that affirms why running as an Independent in environment like Zimbabwe is suicidal.”

Evan Mawarire, a pastor who mobilised thousands of Zimbabweans using social media to flood the streets in protest against former President Robert Mugabe, also found the going tough while standing for a seat in the Harare City Council.

His concession speech also came shortly after counting ended in the early hours of Tuesday.

“With much respect and admiration, I congratulate Jacob Mafume of the MDC Alliance on his win of the Mt Pleasant ward 17 council seat. You ran well my friend and I wish you the best as you serve the people of Mt Pleasant and the city of Harare,” Mawarire said.

Kudzai Mubaiwa, a community organiser in Harare, posted a picture of her campaign poster for the Ward 6 council seat alongside that of her MDC Alliance rival Charles Nyatsuro, telling followers: “Guy beside me looks set to be your incoming councillor. Ndichavagara bumber (I will closely monitor his progress).”

Nyirongo, who also ran a highly visible campaign, conceded defeat to the MDC Alliance’s Happymore Gotora in Harare’s Ward 7.

“A big thank you to all those that supported me. I gave my very best but the people have spoken and decided that Gotora of the MDC Alliance be the councillor for Ward 7. Wishing him all the best,” she said.

Meanwhile, the only Independent MP in the House of Assembly, Temba Mliswa, claimed on Twitter that he was returning to Parliament as MP for Norton after accounting to Zanu PF’s Christopher Mutsvangwa and the MDC Alliance’s Samuel Matemera.

In Harare East, Tendai Biti of the MDC Alliance was projected to have won, with a concession coming from one of his rivals, Obert Gutu – who quit the Alliance in a leadership dispute to throw his lot with MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe.

“Congratulations to Tendai Biti for winning in Harare East. This is democracy. I remain a democrat to the bare bones,” Gutu said on Twitter.

The other notable candidate was Terence Mukupe of Zanu PF, who was the incumbent.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced it would start announcing official results at 3PM on Tuesday.