HARARE – Zanu PF has reclaimed the Mutoko North constituency in a by-election, but over 8,000 voters who voted in the July 30 elections stayed away.
Rambidzai Nyabote is the new MP for the constituency, replacing Mabel Chinomona who vacated the seat after being elected President of the Senate.
Nyabote beat MDC challenger Boniface Mushore by 11,141 votes to 1,329 while the NCA’S Edson Mugoma polled 94 votes in the by-election held on Saturday.
In July, Chinomona won with 16,902 votes, with Mushore coming second with 3,151 votes and Shamu Kativu of FreeZim Congress third with 262 votes.
Zanu PF spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo said: “The resounding victory in Mutoko North constituency by Zanu PF indicates we are the people’s party with a large following across the country and people of Mutoko have reaffirmed that position.”
Zanu PF traditionally performs well in rural regions and the by-election result, coming in the middle of a deepening economic crisis, once again illustrates the task facing the opposition in future elections.
