ZANU-PF Sweeps Tsholotsho Rural District Council By-Elections

Southerton Business Times
Jun 21
2 min read

ZANU-PF candidate Simbisai Ndlovu ward 10 winner

TSHOLOTSHO – ZANU-PF has secured victory in all three wards contested in the Tsholotsho Rural District Council by-elections held on Saturday, 20 June, according to official results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

The ruling party successfully retained Ward 1 and Ward 21, while also winning Ward 10 in a contest that included opposition party ZAPU and an independent candidate. The results reinforce ZANU-PF's dominance in the Tsholotsho area, with the party recording comfortable winning margins across all three wards.

ZANU-PF Retains Ward 1

In Ward 1, ZANU-PF candidate Lindiwe Mkwananzi defeated independent challenger Solani Mhilo after polling 471 votes against 251. Ward Elections Officer Hlabangana Doli declared Mkwananzi duly elected following the completion of vote counting. A total of seven ballots were rejected, while voter turnout stood at 45.4 percent.

Ward 1 Results

Lindiwe Mkwananzi (ZANU-PF): 471 votes
Solani Mhilo (Independent): 251 votes
Rejected ballots: 7
Voter turnout: 45.4%

Mvundla Wins Ward 21

In Ward 21, ZANU-PF's Phillip Mvundla secured a decisive victory over independent candidate Marx Sibanda. Mvundla received 512 votes compared to Sibanda's 236 votes.

The result was announced by Ward Elections Officer Thembenhle Khumalo. Only three ballots were rejected, while turnout was recorded at 41.1 percent.

Ward 21 Results

Phillip Mvundla (ZANU-PF): 512 votes
Marx Sibanda (Independent): 236 votes
Rejected ballots: 3
Voter turnout: 41.1%

ZANU-PF Dominates Ward 10

The largest victory margin came in Ward 10, where ZANU-PF candidate Simbisai Ndlovu won convincingly in a three-way race. Ndlovu polled 802 votes, comfortably ahead of Washington Mchulikanisi Ncube of ZAPU, who garnered 183 votes. Independent candidate Ntando Siziba finished third with 67 votes. Ward Elections Officer Tito Sialuya officially declared Ndlovu the winner.

Ward 10 Results

Simbisai Ndlovu (ZANU-PF): 802 votes
Washington Mchulikanisi Ncube (ZAPU): 183 votes
Ntando Siziba (Independent): 67 votes
Rejected ballots: 15
Voter turnout: 37.7%

Turnout Remains Moderate

Voter turnout across the three wards ranged between 37.7 percent and 45.4 percent, reflecting moderate participation in the local authority by-elections. The results mean ZANU-PF maintains control of all three wards, while opposition and independent candidates failed to make gains in the contests. The by-elections were conducted under the supervision of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, which is responsible for administering elections and announcing official results.