Zanu PF Wins Mt Pleasant and Harare East Parliamentary Seats in Zimbabwe

The ruling Zanu PF party has secured victories in the Mt Pleasant and Harare East parliamentary by-elections held on April 27, 2024, in Zimbabwe. The seats fell vacant following the resignations of former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Rusty Markham earlier this year.

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Zanu PF candidate Kiven Mutimbanyoka defeated independent candidate Cynthia Ropafadzo Cheza in the Harare East constituency, receiving 3,533 votes against Cheza's 1,974. The constituency recorded a 15.2% voter turnout, with 51 rejected ballot papers.

In the Mt Pleasant constituency, Zanu PF's George Mashavave emerged victorious with 3,205 votes, while independent candidates Mamuse Nason and Ticky Brian secured 945 and 220 votes, respectively. The percent poll for Mt Pleasant stood at 11.6%, with 206 rejected ballots.

ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana reported that the by-elections were characterized by a peaceful environment but low voter turnout. By mid-afternoon, few people were going to the polling stations, with voter turnout at 10.4% in Mt Pleasant and 11.2% in Harare East as of 4 pm. Silaigwana encouraged voters to exercise their constitutional right to choose their representatives.

Why this matters: The by-election results in Mt Pleasant and Harare East constituencies have implications for the political landscape in Zimbabwe, as they demonstrate the ruling Zanu PF party's ability to secure parliamentary seats in the absence of strong opposition candidates. The low voter turnout also raises questions about voter engagement and the effectiveness of voter mobilization efforts by political parties.

The voting process in Harare East was reported to be incident-free, with over 5,000 voters casting their ballots by 6 pm. Counting of the votes commenced at all polling stations after the close of voting. The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), the national broadcaster, provided coverage of the by-elections through its radio stations and television channels.

Key Takeaways

• Zanu PF wins Mt Pleasant and Harare East by-elections in Zimbabwe.
• Zanu PF candidates Kiven Mutimbanyoka and George Mashavave emerge victorious.
• Low voter turnout of 15.2% in Harare East and 11.6% in Mt Pleasant.
• By-elections characterized by peaceful environment but low voter engagement.
• Results demonstrate Zanu PF's ability to secure seats in absence of strong opposition.