In a surprise turn of events Zanu PF for the first time in history lost ward 11 and 12 in rural Masvingo West Constituency to opposition CCC.
Zanu PF candidates, President Mnangagwa and Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira lost in the Zanu PF stronghold in the two rural wards in Masvingo West Constituency.
In the presidential elections Mnangagwa at Chibaya Secondary School in Ward 11 polled 102 and Chamisa 111.
At Munongo Primary School Chamisa polled 222 to Mnangagwa’s 135 and at Sipambi the incumbent got 96 while his closet rival had 113.
At Mafuva Chamisa had 98 while President Mnangagwa had 112.
In ward 12 at Mudavanhu Chamisa polled 149 and Mnagagwa got 122, at Nemazuva they exchanged roles with the latter getting 157 and 115 respectively.
At Charumbira President Mnangagwa was shellacked by Chamisa who got 180 compared to 77 that he polled at that polling station.
The loss has fueled speculation that the results are of alleged bad blood between the Zanu PPF heavy weights in the area who are Chief Charumbira and Chadzamiara over the resuscitation of Bere chieftainship recently.
“While that may not be entirely the reason for the Cghadzamiara and Mnangagwa’s poor showing in ward 11 and 12 which are predominantly Chief Charumbira’s area.
“One cannot rule out that Chief Charumbira does not like Chadzamira who is perceived to have been at the forefront of the resuscitation of Bere chieftainship which took away most of Chief Charumbira’s area of jurisdiction hence one cannot rule out his influence on the voting pattern considering that this is the first time it has happened that the opposition takes all the wards under his jurisdiction,” said Harare based social commentator.
At Chabaya Secondary Chdzamira polled 75 compared to CCC’s Gasva who got 143, at Mafuba Primary School the Minister got 90 to the opposition’s 129.
At Munongo Primary the incumbent polled 108 and Gasva got 264 and at Sipambi Chadzamira got 87 as compared to 136 for the opposition candidate.
At Marota Primary School the opposition candidate polled 180 to Chadzamira’s 164.
Gasva of CCC polled 183 at Mudavanhu compared to Chadzamira’s 95 and at Nemazuva Primary in the same ward the incumbent received 138 compared to 150 for the opposition at B polling Station it was the same story as the ruling party candidate lost 187 to 252 of the opposition.
At Charumbira Primary Chadzamira polled a paltry 72 to Gasva’s 201.
Chief Bere who is of the Shumba totem was installed soon after President Mnangagwa who shares the same totem with Bere ascended to power following a soft coup in 2017 which ousted long time dictator, the late Robert Mugabe.
Milton Mugari of CCC won ward 12 while Chidza Makoti of the same party won in ward 12.
In 2013 ward 11 was won by Mai Madzivire of Zanu PF and in 2018 it was won by Toddy Nyengera of the same party until 2023 when it went to the opposition CCC.
