via MDC-T wins Victoria Falls by-election — Nehanda Radio OCTOBER 20, 2013
VICTORIA FALLS – The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai received a much needed political lift on Saturday after winning the Victoria Falls council by-election for Ward 9.
MDC-T rally at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo before the elections
Nehanda Radio understands Somveli Dhlamini (MDC-T) won the election with 238 votes beating Sambulo Mpofu (Zanu PF) 207, Atient Ncube (MDC-Ncube) 62 and White Julius Willard Phiri of Zapu who had 5 votes. There was a total of 6 spoilt ballot papers.
The council is under a Zanu PF mayor despite having won only three seats compared to the rival MDC-T seven seats in the July 31 elections. Three MDC-T councillors voted for a Zanu PF councillor in elections for the mayor.
Sifiso Mpofu of Zanu PF was elected mayor of Victoria Falls after garnering six votes ahead of Marguerite Varley (MDC-T) who had four. The MDC-T has since suspended three councillors it accuses of taking bribes to vote for Mpofu.
Meanwhile we understand the MDC-T will be conducting disciplinary hearings for its rebel councillors on Thursday. The three defied a party caucus directive to vote for an MDC-T candidate to be mayor for the popular tourist destination.
COMMENTS
MDC-T IN AS MUCH AS YOU MIGHT CONTEMPLATE LEAKING YOUR WOUNDS I FOR ONE SAY ITS TIME TO HOLD OUR HEADS HIGH KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT ZIMBABWE, TRUE ZIMBABWEANS, REAL ZIMBABWEANS,REAL REAL ARE BEHIND YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH AND WILL NOT ABANDON THE TRANSFORMING AND THE TRUE PEOPLE,S PARTY.A PARTY OF EXCELLENCE, GROOMERS OF VIRTUE NOT CORRUPTED BY VICE NOR VILE NOT BOOTLICKERS, NOT MURDERERS NOT THIEVES AS IS THE GANGSTERS AND VAGABOUNDS AND MORONS IN ZANU WHO RAPE THEIR MOTHERS, STICK DAGGERS IN THEIR OWN BROTHERS, RAPE THEIR OWN SISTERS AND AXE THEIR OWN FATHERS ZANU AND ZANUIODS ARE DEVILS INCARNATIONS AND THE DEVIL ADVOCATES, EVILISH AND DEMONIC IN AND BY NATURE AND STATURE.DAMNED BARBARIANS WHO STOLE AND STEALS AND ARE STEALING THE PEOPLE,S WILL AND CHOICE.DAMN AND DAMNATION ON MUGABE AND HIS ARCHIANGELS.
Well said Maisokwazvo……the chickens will come home……ZPF won the July 31 election and yet they cant rule Zimbabwe alone……all indicators are calling for another GNU. It started with inviting MDC to be partners in government, (they refused ofcourse), to bribing councillors, now indications are people are saying NO as said in Vic falls, Moyo taking an MDC approach of inclusivity, calls for “media reformation and renaissance”……..chickens are coming home for certain
God is for everyone, and there no one who is more evil or demonic than the rest. Lets leave religious platitudes out of the political discourse. Because one may be punished for fornication, womanizing and immorality as easily as one can for murder. We are all sinners in God’s eyes and he alone is the judge.
I also have a problem with people associating anything progressive or inclusive as an “MDC approach”. Progress, populism, inclusivity are all part of politics. One of the most progressive ministers currently (and during the GNU) is Walter Mzembi (ZPF).
Here is some real useful, non-biased, non-partisan advice to MDC… Regroup, re-assess, be introspective and re-strategise. Forget about the July 31 election, it is now dead and burried. Remember it for the sole purpose of identifying your mistakes and reaching out to the rural vote. Look at the changing electoral landscape. A lot has changed since the protest vote of 2008. Look at the demographics, look at voting patterns. Localize your campaigns and dont over intellectualise with lofty promises of foreign direct investment and democracy. Address the land issue head on and make your position very clear. VERY IMPORTANT: DO NOT IMPOSE CANDIDATES, let the people choose who they want to vote for them. Address the aspirations of the youth. Dont pander to the diaspora and western countries. Combat ZPF claims that you are not a wholly organic and indigenous opposition party. Use your shadow ministers to keep ZPF ministers to account and keep them honest. Ask yourselves tough questions about the longevity and relevance of your party leadership. Address succession. Call for the removal of targeted sanctions and make it very public and very visible. Remove all possible excuses from ZPF. Stay relevant in the hearts and minds of the people. Mobilize local resources and start campaigning now! Do not encourage your MPs to bouycott national events and parliamentary sessions. Although you may think that doing this is removing legitimacy from ZPF, it is actually irellevant as they have a parliamentary majority and such actions can be made to appear undemocratic.
Plus many other things. But anyway, I am sure that a party full of Doctors, Lawyers and professors have thought of all this and much more.
ZPF one this elections through their own strengths and also due to the weaknesses of the MDC, which were exploited expertly. The result will NEVER change, no matter how much you b*tch and moan.
Think ahead. I am a ZPF supporter, but I see the importance of a vibrant, relevant and active opposition party. It has many benefits, chief among them being able to keep the governing party honest and accountable.As a result, it is in the best interests of this country that the MDC remains vibrant and alive. Unfortunately, I think keeping “More Girls” Tsvangirayi at the helm will just hinder the progress.
Well said Bhola. No need to say more!
Bhola, apa wataura zvako,ZPF or no ZPF,brother we need checks and balances in our government systems.We dont mind ZPF ruling but making decisions on their own, ha-a we will end up having cynide in our hotels and drinking water!! Please MDC lets regroup and forward with a ciommon purpose, this time vana Ncube please join MDC-T lets work together we all need one thing, a properous Zimbabwe,In Victora Falls opposition won by 305 to ZPF 207!!!
Well said Bhola. leadership renewal in MDC is required but u shud also adress it within your own party.the reason why zim is in this situation is bcoz we have a despot and carrear ministers who are corrupt to the bone.
Above all, do NOT impose candidates. The losing mayoral candidate was imposed on ward 1 voters, which is why she was eventually rejected by concillors who told her in clear terms what they think of her. Varley, if you had any sense of decency in your blood you would resign today and let the people’s candidate be the mdc candidate, but what do you know of decency? you were imposed on the voters but people with the mdc at heart decided to send you back to your nightclub. Rather work with fiso than you. As for the so-called leaders in harare, please take this piece of trash back to where you found it unless you want zpf to win in 2018..
One has to be crazy to expext any good from Zanu and Mugabe. He has never opened a highway, dam, power station etc in his 33 yrs of rule. The best he has done is donating computers to schools, without electricity obviously.
Congratulations to mdc- t but as i said before we have five years to rebrand our party from President Tsvangirai name. The time is now and i want to assist vaChamisa on this project.