1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio
1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio
1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
pronounced in the presidential results where Morgan Tsvangirai emerged with 145 198 votes<br />
against Robert Gabriel Mugabe with 156 672 votes.<br />
In the Midlands, ZANU PF was on a clean parliamentary lead with 19 seats out of the 27<br />
contested parliamentary seats while 8 went to the MDC. A by-Election will be conducted in<br />
Redcliff. In remote, drought-prone and rural Mberengwa [incidentally a hot spot zone], ZANU<br />
PF won with very huge margins. In fact, since independence Mberengwa has consistently<br />
remained a ZANU PF stronghold. It is however instructive to note that while ZANU PF won all<br />
seats in the 9 Gokwe constituencies, most seats were tightly contested with small margin wins.<br />
In Manicaland Province, the MDC T emerged on the lead having won 19 of the 26 contested<br />
parliamentary seats while the ZANU PF retained the 7 rural constituencies of Buhera North,<br />
Chimanimani East, Chipinge Central, Chipinge East, Headlands, Mutare South, and Nyanga<br />
South-areas that incidentally are leading hot spot zones. It is however instructive to note that<br />
even in these 7 constituencies, ZANU PF won by very thin margins.<br />
In Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, all the 11 contested parliamentary seats went to the<br />
opposition, MDC T while in Matebeleland North only 4 rural constituencies out of the 13<br />
contested parliamentary seats were retained by ZANU PF leaving the opposition with 8 seats<br />
and the Tsholotsho seat falling to an independent. This pattern was also visible in presidential<br />
<strong>election</strong>s where the ruling party candidate emerged with 42 825 votes while Morgan Tsvangirai<br />
got 70 611 votes. However, it is trite to note the prevalence of voter apathy in this province.<br />
Equally important is to note that while the opposition is in the majority, ZANU PF presence is<br />
still visible in some parts of the province. Matebeleland North is still a highly contested zone<br />
with Tsholotsho a fiercely contested constituency as the ruling party is yet to stomach the<br />
painful reality of it falling in the hands of an independent, for that matter, one who rebelled from<br />
the ruling party.<br />
As in Matebeleland North, ZANU PF remained politically visible in the rural constituencies of<br />
Matebeleland South where it won 5 of the 12 contested parliamentary seats. In metropolitan<br />
Harare which is incidentally home to the ruling party headquarters and the State House, ZANU<br />
PF retained only 1 seat in Harare South. In Mashonaland Central [incidentally a traditional no<br />
go area for the opposition] while 3 seats [Bindura South, Mazowe Central and Mazowe South]<br />
went to the opposition. However close analysis of votes spread show visible small margin<br />
scenarios.<br />
In Mashonaland East [another traditional hot spot zone] 7 of the 34 contested parliamentary<br />
seats went to the MDC leaving ZANU PF in a comfortable lead with 27 seats, however with the<br />
thin margin scenario visibly evident. In UZUMBA, Mutoko South and Mudzi, incidentally hot<br />
beds of violence, ZANU PF won big with the Uzumba parliamentary going uncontested.<br />
Clearly evident from these <strong>election</strong> results is that while the opposition urban <strong>support</strong> base is<br />
relatively secure, this is no longer the case for the ruling party in its traditional strongholds. The<br />
opposition challenge which in the past was largely confined to the urban areas and had given<br />
the impression that rural areas were the unchallenged political enclaves of the ruling party has<br />
since been busted. The contestation that was initially confined to urban areas has since shifted<br />
to rural areas.<br />
Senatorial Results<br />
CANDIDATE SENATORIAL SEATS<br />
MDC TSVANGIRAI 30 SEATS<br />
ZANU PF 24 SEATS<br />
42