MDC-T celebrates poll outcome

via MDC-T celebrates poll outcome – Southern Eye

THE MDC-T is celebrating the outcome of Wednesday’s by-elections in Bulawayo which saw Zanu PF winning with reduced figures after a majority of people heeded the opposition party’s calls to boycott the polls.

BY SILAS NKALA

MDC-T claimed Zanu PF, despite winning all the five by-elections in the city, had its support reduced compared to the 2013 election results.

MDC-T Bulawayo deputy spokesperson Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda described the polls as “void by-elections” and wondered what Zanu PF would do after its pyrrhic win.

“Are we as Zimbabweans going to benefit from these unnecessary elections?” Sibanda asked.

“Is the economic meltdown set to improve? These are some of the important questions the nation at large is grappling with day and night.”

He said the Bulawayo MDC-T provincial executive was thanking Bulawayo residents and other stakeholders for not participating en masse in the elections.

“We have been vindicated as the MDC family by those ambitious political parties and individuals who participated and tested the pudding, and confirmed the MDC-T position demanding for electoral reforms before election,” Sibanda said.

“Those who participated either as political parties or independent candidates complained of many irregularities like vote-buying, intimidation, coercion by chiefs or traditional leaders, contrary to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 281 (2) (a) to (d). As the most popular party, MDC-T is highly grateful to our Bulawayo structures and all stakeholders for ignoring the unnecessary by-elections.”

He said the MDC-T was eagerly waiting for 2018 hoping by then, significant electoral reforms would have been made.

“Those who are still doubting Thomases are now better-placed and will not in their lifetime be hoodwinked by Zanu PF to participate in bogus elections where results are predetermined,” Sibanda said.

“President Morgan Tsvangirai has proved beyond doubt that he is the voice of the people of Zimbabwe.

“Contrary to Zanu PF celebrating that they have gained ground in Harare and Bulawayo, this is not the case as my statistics show that those who heeded Tsvangirai’s call of a boycott averaged 77% in all constituencies and Zanu PF lost previously-held ground.”

Zanu PF won all the 16 contested seats and made inroads in Bulawayo and Harare.

In Makokoba, Bulawayo, Tshinga Dube received 1 667 votes out of 14 828 registered voters, beating other contestants who got a total votes of 707 altogether.

In Pelandaba-Mpopoma, Joseph Tshuma of Zanu PF got 2 050 out of 14 828 registered voters, beating other contestants who got a total of 977 votes altogether.

In Lobengula, Maidei Mpala of Zanu PF garnered 1 976 votes out of 25 373 registered voters, beating other contestants who got a total of 877 votes.

In Luveve, Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo of Zanu PF received 1 765 out of 28 211 registered voters, beating other contestants who got 1 466 votes altogether.

In Pumula, Godfrey Malaba Ncube of Zanu PF got 2 477 out of 26 448 registered voters, beating other contestants who got a total of 1 120 votes.

Sibanda said in 2013 in Mpopoma, Zanu PF got 2 122 compared to current figure which stood at 2 050. In Pumula, Zanu PF in 2013 got 2 877 compared to the current 2 477.

“In Chikanga, Zanu PF got 9 336 votes in 2013 compared to this year’s total of 6 376 votes out of 19 000 registered voters,” Sibanda said.

“In Kuwadzana, Zanu PF in 2013 got 4 345 votes and on June 10, got 3 480. In Kambuzuma, Zanu PF in 2013 got 4 165 votes against June 10’s 2 712,” he added.

“This shows that Zanu PF has had reduced support as its numbers have deteriorated when the MDC-T was not contesting. Figures show a sharp decline of Zanu PF support.”

Zanu PF had last won an election in Bulawayo in 1995.

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 10
  • comment-avatar
    chimusoro 9 years ago

    Were they rigged?

  • comment-avatar
    kalulu 9 years ago

    I am at pains to understand what MDC-T is celebrating for taking into account that it was MDC-T who applied to the speaker of parliament to recall the MP’s which resulted in the by-elections.

    They enforce opposition MP’s to be recalled,by-elections are effected as a result of their actions, they oppose the holding of by-elections, they campaign for people to ignore the by-elections and to spoil the votes.

    Once again I ask the MDC-T ‘what was your motive for recalling the opposition MP’s from parliament’. Please do not take people for fools who you think will always dance to your tunes.

    You are just a ‘clueless’ organisation which achieved nothing during your stay in government, no reforms which you are now crying for when you spent 5 solid years in government drinking coffee with Mugabe as one of your achievements in government.

    • comment-avatar
      Tsuro 9 years ago

      Kalulu where are you getting lost….asi uriRenewal kani? I ask again, “would you keep dogs that you brought into the house,and they spend all their energy and time barking and biting you, instead of chasing the thieves and robbers? The dogs actually say the robbers are not robbing at all but they “have political message that resonate with the electorate”

      • comment-avatar
        kalulu 9 years ago

        For your own information I am not a member of any political organisation.

        Like I pointed out out earlier, I do not understand why your party is celebrating. Is it beacuse the grand plan was to donate the seats to ZANU PF and you are celebrating that as an achievement.

        If you want us to believe that THE celebration is because ZANU PF got lower votes than in the previous election, the question is does it matter to them as long as ZANU PF got all the seats they contested FOR and the rule is one vote more than your nearest competitor entitles victory which is what ZANU PF DID and they achieved that.

        So what is the reason for celebrating as if MDC-T won something in the by-elections.

        • comment-avatar
          Jackson 9 years ago

          Kalulu you just aint got a clue why MDC is celebratin the by-election. Your political insight is shallow

          • comment-avatar
            kalulu 9 years ago

            I accept your view with regards to to my lack political insight and that I am ‘shallow’, however, I presented my reasons though briefly and I am entitled to have an opinion just as you.

            Whilst I have submitted my views to back up my opinion, you have not shown anything to show your insightfulness in political issues and it gives me an impression that that you have just picked up the words used by other people ‘verbatim’in different scenarios which is unfortunate and unhelpful.

            You should learn to accept that different people hold different views which should be respected instead of being insultive without justifying the basis for your insults.

            If you know why MDC-T are celebrating the outcome of a by-election that they created then boycotted which benefitted ZANU PF and why they did not effect reforms during their 5 years in government that they are now crying for the sitting government to effect, then help those with no political insight like me to understand.

            I think it is a fair request for the fortunate ‘geniuses’ like you to explain to help the less talented to see the light.

        • comment-avatar
          Tinomunamataishe 9 years ago

          The issue with numbers is that they can be looked at from different angles.

          I think the angle the MDC is looking at is from the fact that even though Zanu PF won, the number of people who were persuaded to vote for them this time were less than the people who voted for them in 2013.

          That, according to MDC means they have lost some votes. They have in fact not made any inroads in Harare and Bulawayo.

          It seems MDC-T will regain those seats easily in 2018 according to these numbers.

          What I find interesting is that there can be a constituency with just 14 828. Its a waste of money. Compare this with South Africa where on average a constituency has an average of more than 60 000, four times more than the Zimbabwean. Too many MPs, hence they do nothing.

  • comment-avatar
    Ngoto Zimbwa 9 years ago

    Why would the MDC celebrate the outcome of a poll they said was null and void?
    One has to question the motive behind this piece in Southern-eye.

    I think Tsuro’s analogy is just brilliant, by the way!

  • comment-avatar
    blackhammer 9 years ago

    Does it really matter how many seats Zanu has in Parliament? Besides MDC holding more seats in the 2008 elections, Zanu still ignored them at every turn, on every issue. And I was against the GNU nonsense because it only bought Zanu more time. Imagine, Tsvangirai as Prime minister, being barred to visit prisoners in jail! Mind boggles. The Renewal team miscalculated horribly. They thought they would remain on the train for another five years, under cover. I personally would have taken them seriously if they had resigned en masse and called for by elections. Instead they suspended most of the leaders at the top table and then proceeded to form another party. Confused dot com? I remember being ferociously barked at by Mrs Holland when I questioned Tsvangirai’s state of mind during his bunga bunga escapades. Those were the days. Reading Biti’s piece below, posted 5th of August 20013, who would have thought that the Renewal group was rushing to the scene of the accident at break neck speed? They did write their own obituary. RIP. MDC should not mourn the passing of those seats to Zanu. They will be back tenfold because Zanu has no panacea for the country’s ills. In fact I wished then, MDC to boycott parliament and see how far Zanu would have got recognition.

    Simon M Tozvireva

    We’re drowning in dark shadows of pain: Biti
    02/08/2013 00:00:00

    by Tendai Biti

    WE LIVE in horrible times surrounded by horrible man. Man we have always assumed human, rational and real. They are not.
    Since late Wednesday, July 31, we have been walking like zombies, drowning in dark shadows of pain and disbelief, hoping that this is just a nightmare where someone will wake us up in sweat and we will sink into prayer.
    I am afraid it’s real. The unbelievable is happening. The surreal is playing. The insanity rolls on. The conductor does not pause; he waves his arms in deep satisfaction to the exquisite delivery of the orchestra. The crowds applaud at the orchestra of insanity.
    They must think we are fools. To think that we cannot have a seat in Masvingo, Manicaland, and the three Mashonaland provinces. What a loquacious tragedy!
    Now even those that they killed shamelessly during Gukurahundi have embraced them. Can you honestly tell the villagers of Matobo whose children were mercilessly thrown down mine shafts that they have now found peace with the devil? Go to Esigodini and ask them. Ask my friend Paul Temba Nyathi in Gwanda the same question. What a load of rubbish!
    Can you tell the beautiful people of Gairezi in Nyanga North that the imposter Magadzire Nyanhongo is now their MP? Can you tell the people of Masvingo Urban that a failed businessman going by the name Daniel Shumba is now their MP?
    I have said it before, water in its flow will never defy gravity. A mouse can never hunt a lion.
    Spare a thought for Theresa Makoni. Can someone in Borrowdale Road show me hands and say we voted Zanu PF? Maybe you are there at Sam Levy. Please get in touch if you are out there.
    Spare a thought for Sean Timba and the beautiful suburb of Mount Pleasant. I caught them in Churchill Avenue in broad daylight. Innocent, under-age souls dusted and brought to life from the back of yonder at Nyangombe in the middle of Binya road. They looked like Tolkien’s hobbits or should I say little gollums. They were holding forged voter registration slips. They froze and wet themselves when they saw us. Tired, hungry and abused – despite the structural poverty gripping them. This is how desperate we get.
    The thing is we always assume the Revolutionary Party has conscience or limits. They do not. For power, they will do anything. When dealing with them always budget for the irrational, for the insane. Any assumption of sanity is wrong and naive.

    They have stolen this election to the extent that they themselves are so embarrassed. I suspect they did not intend to steal this far and create such a ridiculously so incredulous a situation such that no reasonable person would ever accept the same.
    But you see, once you steal, you are just a thief and you can’t stop. There is no such thing as a little cheating. It reminds of the Loot Committee of 1895. When the colonialists discovered there was no little Rand this side of the Limpopo, they started looting land and cattle belonging to the local natives. It got so bad that they had to create a little committee to curtail their own avarice. The committee was known as the Loot Committee and its first chairman was Thomas Meikles. Yes that one of the Meikles empire (113 years later some things never change).
    Back to the Tired Party, you must be pleased very much with your product. You must be saying to yourselves ,and your spouses we did a good job. Your children must be so pleased with you. ‘Daddy, we knocked out that Tsvangirai.’ ‘Yes son, nice job at least we can go to Beijing next week.’ ‘Thank you dad, I love you so much.’
    ‘But dad, why are the people not celebrating with us?’ ‘No son, the people are stupid, they have been bought. You must never be bought, at least the Chinese are better.’

    Well you did a pretty damn good job didn’t you? Guilt my friends is a heavy load. You can’t breathe when you carry guilt. Reputations, big reputations, have been soiled in this election. Some of you we thought were decent. But we have found you out. Little, conniving, spineless people. You have fooled a lot us. But you can’t fool all of us all the time. Can you?
    But I am not suggesting anything. No, you did not force-march people to pretend they were now illiterate. No, no you did not fail to produce the voters roll to other political parties. No, you did not register people after July 9. No, you do not do that.
    No, no you did not force chiefs, kraal heads and headman to force march people to vote at synchronised polling times. No, you did not chase people away from polling stations.
    No, no Nikuv never helped you, never supplied with those fantastic pens with mutating cast ballots. No, Nikuv never helped you with doctoring the voters roll. What cheap lies!
    No, you did not issue en masse fake voter registration slips to anyone. That boy Silumbu, the Daily News is crazy.
    No, you did not throw away at the Sheraton unpalatable special votes against yourselves. No, no you did not cause the arrest of Morgan Komichi. I know people just create stories against you.
    No, you did not print duplicate ballot papers. No you did not swap ballot boxes in certain areas. I swear NaMai Dvororo, you did not do this. No, no you are not working in collusion with or manipulating ZEC. What a horrible lie!
    No, you did not transport under age unregistered voters from refugee camps and Border Gezi training camps. No, you won the election free and fair. After all, the people love you so much and are so grateful for everything you have done for us. You gave us jobs, functioning industries, hospitals and Africa’s best country.
    Wananchi, poor Wananchi. You worked so hard. You won the campaign. It is so painful when some moron tells you the impossible. That one plus one equals seven. No it does not add up.
    But Wananchi, we are not the victims .They are. We did not lose this election. We do not accept this result, one that is so unashamedly a farce that it is null and void, as President Tsvangirai said at his press conference on Thursday.
    Wananchi, let’s remain calm and keep our eyes on the ball. They have made an opening move. They have indicated where they want to take this country. They have reflected they will stop at nothing. Very well then. Very very well.
    Time will tell who is the real winner. Time does not lie, does it? It always catches us out. Yes time has all the time in the world. Only fools think they can steal from it. Or fornicate with it. No.
    Now I am told they are desperately looking for some diversion from the grand theft. They are always good at that. Something to divert the people s pain.
    I am also told that they want retribution. That violence will erupt against our people. That they will seek to kill, assassinate and arrest. But guys you have won the election .Get on with governance. I am also told that they also want to push us into some other government of national unity, or some variant of it.
    But Wananchi, those who have won must govern on their own. Tongai Tione. Zikomo!
    Tendai Biti is the MDC-T secretary general and outgoing Finance Minister

  • comment-avatar

    Would an MDC victory in Bulawayo brought water the region. No. Will a Zanu pf victory bring water? Don’t hold your breath. What ever outcome the whole opposition took the right decision.There is no point being in a parliament where even your best suggestion will be ignored just because of who you are. Those electorate reforms will come. Until they do anyone in Parliament is just a token to make up the numbers.The recalling of the MPs was a must because as long as we had two groups claiming to have the mandate of their constituents confusion would have continued to reign.If the renewal boys felt the people were with them then they could have participated. That the Bulawayo masses did not turn out is a true showing that they have contempt for Zanu pf. Imagine trying to buy votes by donating a bus to HFC. That was stupid and insulting to even have one of Bulawayo’s arch enemies to present it to the club, more so when people are suffering under the current economic climate.