By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
HARARE – The ruling ZANU-PF party retained the Glen View South National Assembly seat in last week’s by-election, but the real story lies in the fragmented opposition vote.
According to Glen South National Assembly By-Election Report by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network the by election was largely marred by low turnout.
Three independent candidates—all linked to the disbanded Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)—collectively secured more than 1,900 votes, nearly 60% of ZANU-PF’s winning tally, in a race marked by low turnout and internal opposition divisions.
Tsitsi Tawomhera of ZANU-PF won with 3,404 votes (70.4% of votes cast), while independents Tonderai Chakaredza (993 votes), George Makwangadze (681 votes), and Tungamirai Madzokere (234 votes) split the remaining opposition support.
Analysts suggest that had these candidates united under a single banner, they could have posed a serious challenge to ZANU-PF.
“This was a self-inflicted defeat,” said political analyst Rangarirai Mberi. “The opposition’s inability to consolidate allowed ZANU-PF to walk into an easy victory, despite apathy in its own ranks.”
The independents reportedly campaigned under the shadow of CCC’s former leadership, highlighting lingering divisions since the party’s implosion in 2023.
Meanwhile, the only registered opposition party, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), fielded Perpetua Mukanda, who secured just 77 votes.
According to ZESN report, voter turnout was a dismal 17.2%, with former CCC supporters either staying home or scattering their votes among the independents.
In the 2023 general elections, the CCC’s Gladmore Hakata had won the seat with over 15,000 votes—more than triple ZANU-PF’s total this time.
What’s next? With Zimbabwe’s 2028 elections looming, opposition figures face mounting pressure to regroup or risk further erosion of their influence.
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