The ruling Zanu PF party has won a parliamentary by-election in the Midlands province amid claims of politically-motivated violence by the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared Zanu PF candidate, Spencer Tshuma, winner of the Gokwe-Kabuyini parliamentary seat after polling 10,777 votes against CCC’s Costin Muguti, who got 4,800 votes.
ZEC did not address CCC’s claims of electoral fraud fueled by violence allegedly perpetrated by the ruling party.
Tafadzwa Mugwadi, Zanu PF’s information and communications director, said the win indicated that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is doing people-oriented programs.
But CCC’s spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, said in a tweet, “This is not victory. It’s electoral theft. We thank the thousands of brave citizens in Gokwe who voted for change. We’ve engaged the region & international community over the escalation of political violence. Security of the vote & voter are integral for 2023.”
CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa, also said in a tweet, “A SALUTE TO BRAVE CITIZENS & CHANGE CHAMPIONS IN GOKWE KABUYUNI…This was a good fight, a learning moment and it’s a process. We’re doing well against all odds. We continue excelling. We must deal with fear, forced voting, and abuse of traditional leaders. We will WIN BIG! #fakapressure.”
A SALUTE TO BRAVE CITIZENS & CHANGE CHAMPIONS IN GOKWE KABUYUNI..This was a good fight, a learning moment and it’s a process. We’re doing well against all odds.We continue excelling.We must deal with fear,forced voting,abuse of traditional leaders.We will WIN BIG! #fakapressure pic.twitter.com/3fEO4AADmC
— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) August 28, 2022
— VOA
