ZANU PF Wins Chegutu Ward 1 By-Election

ZANU PF has regained the Chegutu Municipality Ward 1 council seat following a by-election, ending almost 20 years of opposition dominance in the area.

Official results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission show that Gifty Konjana won the poll with 367 votes.

Independent candidate Elisha Tonderai Dausi received 301 votes, while another independent, Charles Mirisau, managed nine votes. One ballot paper was rejected. Voter turnout was recorded at 34.57 percent.

The results were officially announced by Ward Elections Officer Charlene Mauyakufa, who declared Konjana the duly elected councillor for Ward 1 under Chegutu Municipality.

Konjana, who recently left the opposition to join ZANU PF, was fielded by the ruling party in the by-election.

Speaking after the announcement, Konjana said the outcome reflected a shared desire for unity and development among residents.

He said the victory belonged to the people of Ward 1 and that his decision to join ZANU PF was driven by a belief that meaningful development is achieved through working with the Government of the day. He pledged to serve all residents, regardless of political affiliation.

The newly elected councillor said his priorities would include improving service delivery, rehabilitating roads, increasing access to clean water and supporting farmers in the largely rural ward.

Meanwhile, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, the party’s Mashonaland West provincial chairperson, welcomed the result, describing it as a major political milestone.

She said Ward 1 had been under opposition control since 2008, and reclaiming it signalled growing public confidence in the development agenda being pursued by the Second Republic.

Mliswa-Chikoka added that strong grassroots mobilisation played a key role in the victory and said Konjana’s experience would strengthen party structures at local level.

She said the election result showed that voters were moving away from divisive politics and were instead focused on development and progress.