The Sunday Mail
Levi Mukarati in Mvurwi
Zanu-PF was last night poised to win the Mazowe North National Assembly by-election as returns from party polling agents indicated a clear victory for the ruling party’s candidate, Advocate Martin Dinha. Polling stations closed at 7pm, with ballot counting and collation going late into the night. Adv Dinha was upbeat when The Sunday Mail caught up with him at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission constituency command centre.
“There are no two ways about it that we are romping to victory. We did our groundwork and, generally, Mashonaland Central is a Zanu-PF stronghold. We can’t let the party down. Victory is certain as we have done our groundwork in terms of fulfilling the aspirations of the people,” he said.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial chair Cde Dickson Mafios chipped in: “The party’s resounding victory in this constituency will be evident as Zanu-PF has had programmes geared towards the development of the constituency.
“This is in terms of infrastructure development. No doubt; Zanu-PF will romp to victory and we can’t talk of opposition in Mashonaland Central. We are not happy, though, that an election monitoring organisation like the Zimbabwe Election Support Network has been campaigning here.”
National Political Commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere — who was in Mazowe North for most of yesterday — said the poll was “a mere formality”.
“We know we will win. We know we are a party that has a following. We are a party led by a leader, President Mugabe, whose leadership is tried and tested.
“Cde Dinha has worked with the people; he is a hard worker and there is no way he can lose the election. People want to be associated with political parties that can deliver and that is what Zanu-PF is all about.”
Mrs Loice Masimu, the presiding officer at Mvurwi Town Council Suwoguru Community Hall, said polling started on time at 7am and voting had progressed smoothly.
Mrs Phillida Gono, who oversaw voting at Umvukwes Primary School polling station, said: “We opened at 7am and all voting material was at the polling station.
‘‘At the time of opening, we had eight people in the queue; maybe this was due to the cold weather in the morning.
“We turned away four people who had brought drivers’ licences as proof of identification. Also by 10:30 am, we had no voter who had been assisted.”
