Moses Madyira
CHIKOMBA—There was tension at Chikomba RDC offices when the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care John Mangwiro who is believed to be a close ally of Vice President Chiwenga refused to sign the election results won by Tatenda Mavetera.
Mangwiro lost the right to represent Zanu PF in Chikomba West in the coming harmonized elections to hugely popular former Studio 263 star actress Mavetera when he polled4 353 to his rival’s 5 812 in the weekend primary elections.
Mangwiro who is the sitting MP for Chikomba West was visibly shaken as he refused to sign the results citing severe rigging of the elections in favor of Mavetera. Prior to announcement of results, the two camps exchanged harsh and sometimes resorted to physical threats.
Police officers who were manning the command centre had to bring dogs to maintain order as the situation threatened to culminate into chaos.
Mavetera is believed to challenged Mangwiro to a rerun if he felt was cheated.
Mangwiro could not contain the loss and he allegedly delayed counting of votes as officials took time trying to calm him down.
In an interview with The Midweek Watch, Mavetera said it’s normal in any election for a loser to claim to have been rigged and insisted someone’s refusal to sign results doesn’t affect the official result.
“There is no way I can rig the election as an incoming candidate, the sitting candidate is the one who can possibly rig elections. It is normal after elections for one who would have lost the elections to claim rigging,” said Mavetera.
Mangwiro could not be reached for a comment as his phone was not being answered on several occasions.
Zanu PF Chikomba District Coordinating Committee chairperson Venon Muringani said the elections were peaceful and fair and said it is expected of a loser to claim rigging of elections.
The elections were run by Forever Associates Zimbabwe Trust (FAZ).
