Zanu PF retains its stranglehold on rural areas

Bulawayo-The ruling Zanu PF mantain control in rural Zimbabwe  by winning 765 of the 849 wards that were contested during the eekend poll, held amid opposition charges of rigging and political arassment.

The two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won a total of 81 wards in the elections that were also marred by widespread voter apathy. Independent candidates won the remainder.

Although media reports this week said that the ruling party had retained its stranglehold on rural areas, they did not specify the number of wards each of the contesting parties had won as the Zimbabwe Election Commission was still compiling the data from the ward command centres countrywide.

Going into the elections, Zanu – PF had won 566 wards unopposed after opposition parties faied to field candidates in the areas. This brings Zanu – PF’s rural councillors to 1 331.

Dozens of MDC members could not secure nomination after they failed to get support letters from traditional chiefs, known to be ruling party loyalists. In terms of the Electoral Act people wishing to run in rural ward elections must get support letters from their chiefs stating that they reside in areas they want to contest in.

The MDC estimated that more than 300 of its prospective candidates could not be nominated as a result of that. The opposition party charged just before the elections the ruling party officials, including the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Ignatius Chombo had ordered traditional chiefs not to assist MDC members wishing to obtain the support letters.

While the Zanu- PF and MDC continued to dominate the political landscape in the country, smaller opposition fared disastrously in the elections. Zanu Ndonga, one of the country’s oldest parties failed to win a single
ward even in its former Chipinge stronghold, so did Peace Action and Freedom For All (PAFA) and United People’s Party.

Instead, three independent candidates were elected. Despite oppisition assertions that the elections were rigged, ZEC
pronounced the polls as free and fair.In addition to winning in rural areas, the ruling party also won the Kadoma mayoral election after its candidate, who was the incumbent, Fani Phiri polled 4614 ballots against Jonas Ndenda who got 2291 votes. Ndenda was fielded by the main MDC faction that is loyal to founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Like in other areas, the Kadoma contest was also  marred with political violence after a stoning incident on Ndenda’s home on the eve of the elections.The MDC blamed Zanu – PF for the attack. Zanu – PF  has touted the results as an indication that its popularity is rising in MDC’s Matabeleland and urban strongholds. The weekend rural elections were held concurrently with some ward by-elections in some urban areas such as Victoria Falls, Chiredzi, Gwanda, Hwange Local Board and Plumtree which Zanu – PF won.

In Matabeleland North, the ruling party won 84 wards while the MDC got 33. While MDC resoundingly confirmed its its control in Binga and Nkayi districts, Zanu – PF made some modest progress there.

In Nkayi in Matabeleland North, MDC won 13 wards, with Zanu – PF winning 11. However, in Matabeleland South, which tends to side with Zanu –PF, the ruling party took control of all the seven rural district councils, after capturing 80 wards. The MDC took 19.