LIVE BLOG – Election updates, results and analysis

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has started releasing results of Wednesday’s elections. Below, we post official results and our analysis. This blog will be updated as results and news become available. (Keep refreshing for latest updates)

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Turnout: Turning point?

Voter turnout in this election was far lower than in 2018, and proved to be one of the decisive factors. In 2018, all provinces had turnout of at least 80%. This year, only three Mashonaland provinces went above 70%. Turnout was lower across the country, falling from 85.10% in 2018 to 68.86% this year.

The lower turnout hurt Chamisa more than it did Mnangagwa.

In Harare, where vote delays resulted in an extra day of voting in 11 wards, turnout fell from 85.65% in 2018 to 67.7%. As a result, Chamisa had 31,559 fewer votes in his stronghold. Mnangagwa lost 10,264 votes in Harare.

The President fared even worse in Bulawayo, losing almost half the votes that he won there in 2018. But his gains in Mashonaland, and a smaller drop in Manicaland compared to Chamisa’s, helped his tally.

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10:50

ED: I did not run the election, I was a participant

In his first comments after being declared winner of the election, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rejected charges by the opposition that he rigged his way to victory and said observer missions that criticised the country’s laws ‘overstepped’ their mandate.

This morning, Mnangagwa said: “I can assure you that I did not conduct the elections. I competed with them in this race to win the elections. Those who feel the race was not run fairly, should know where to go to complain.”

The SADC observer mission criticised laws such as the “Patriotic Act”, and other legal provisions such as delimitation. Mnangagwa says observers should have no opinion on the country’s laws.

He said: “I’m aware that some observer missions went beyond their call of duty and began interrogation legislation passed by our Parliament. It is my view that every sovereign state passes legislation through their legislature, and Zimbabwe is not an exception.”

According to Mnangagwa, “I don’t think it’s in the mandate of election observers to interrogate institutions of a sovereign government, the judiciary, the legislature. I believe their mandate is to observe the transparency, peacefulness and conduct of the elections”.

Voter turnout lower in 2023

A total of 6,623,511 people were registered to vote in the 2023 election. Of these voters, 4,56,1221 turned up to vote. There were 4,468,668 valid votes cast. Voter turnout was 68.9%, down from 85.1% in 2018.

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Both Mnangagwa and Chamisa lost votes this time, as voter turnout fell

In 2018, Mnangagwa won 2,456,010 votes. He has 105,299 less votes this time. Chamisa won 2,151,927 votes in 2018. This time, he polled 184,584 less. Voter turnout fell from 85.1% in 2018 to 68.9%.

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23:30

BREAKING: President Mnangagwa declared winner with 52.6%

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is the winner of the 2023 election, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has declared. 

Mnangagwa won 52.6% of the vote, a total of 2,350,711 votes, to beat rival Nelson Chamisa, who won 1,967,343 votes, or 44% of the vote.

In 2018, Mnangagwa got 50.6%, while Chamisa polled 44.3%

The total number of valid votes was 4,468,668, ZEC chair Priscilla Chigumba said. Voter turnout was 68.9%.

23:10

ZEC: Political party agents have signed the the V23D forms endorsing the Presidential results.

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Final Parliamentary election results are out. Of the 210 seats:  

  • ZANU PF: 136 seats
  • CCC: 73

In 2018, ZANU PF won 145 seats to the MDC-A’s 63, winning a two-thirds majority. This time, CCC denied them this target after a strong showing in Matabeleland North and South:

  • CCC adds 4 Mat North to MDC-A’s 5 in 2018, and 3 more in Mat South
  • ZANU PF gets 3 more in Harare than it got in 2018

(There will be a by-election in Gutu West, where a candidate died just before the election. 

19:20

ZEC says: “Collation and verification of results is still ongoing with attendees discussing Presidential V23B forms from constituencies.”

V23B forms collate results from V11s, which are filled at polling station level.

18:54

President Mnangagwa will “issue a statement to the media this evening soon after the ZEC announcement of presidential results”, his office says.

18:15

ZEC announces that it plans to start releasing presidential results from 7PM. Election agents are verifying results.

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15:30

15:00

ZEC has held a meeting with agents of political parties as they begin the process of verifying presidential election results. The commission has until Tuesday to release full results, after voting was extended to Thursday.

20:35

One tight race

The last the time we brought out the calculators around 8PM: ZANU PF’s total vote was 1,135,105 votes, with the CCC not far behind with 888,278 votes.

ZANU PF had 96 seats with CCC at 67.

Share of the vote: CCC had 42.56% of the vote and ZANU PF with 54.35%.

We don’t have most presidential votes yet. But, if the trend from 2018 is repeated, where ED finished 21,698 votes behind his MPs, then the margin may likely to be running narrower in the presidential race.

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20:20

HARARE SOUTH

Hasha Trouble (CCC): 4009

Kanupula Trymore (ZANU PF): 13 560

Magweta George (CCC): 1 573

Musonza Dorothy (CCC): 7 420

ZANU PF retains the seat. Musonza was the official CCC candidate. Combined, the votes shared by the three listed CCC candidates come to 13 002, just short of the ZANU PF winner’s 13 560.

The seat was reduced in size by the delimitation. In 2018, ZANU PF’s Tongai Mnangagwa benefitted from a split vote to win. The MDC-A endorsed Shadreck Mashayamombe, a former ZANU PF official rejected by his party over ‘G40’ links. Mashayamombe got 21 366. The other MDC-A candidate, Sam Saurombe, got 7 816. Combined, their tally would have beaten Mnangagwa’s 24 503

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19:00

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi alleges collusion between the opposition and observer missions who have criticised the conduct of the election.

Ziyambi says: “The statements that have been issued so far, read like a script from one of the election contenders, as there appears to be some wholesome adoption of their position as established fact. There’s a striking resemblance in diction and nuances between certain reports that have been released, and this cannot be a coincidence.”

17:30

NYANGA SOUTH (Manicaland)

Mandiwanzira Supa (ZANU PF): 10 327

McCormick Ruxandra (CCC): 9 574

Mandiwanzira retains his seat by a narrow margin of 753. In 2018, Mandiwanzira beat the MDC-A candidate by a ore comfortable margin of 12 322 to 7 464 votes.

16:35

The CommonweaIth’s verdict on the election: “Our overall assessment of the voting process is that it was well conducted and peaceful. However, there exist a number of significant issues that impact on the credibility, transparency and inclusivity of the process.”

On the vote count: “The count was a detailed and thorough process, carried out by professional, dedicated and resilient polling officials in the presence of attentive party agents and observers. The close and count followed the due process for the most part, with a high degree of transparency”.

The Commonwealth also raised concern over ballot delays on voting day and the role of FAZ.

16: 30

The Africa Union-COMESA observers on Zimbabwe’s elections: “The 2023 harmonised elections, up to the counting process, in a generally peaceful and transparent manner, despite logistical challenges in the distribution of local authority ballot papers in some areas.”

As SADC did earlier, the AU observer mission has criticised the presence of FAZ at some voting sites, saying it had led to confrontation at some locations

15:30

The EU observer mission says the election fell short of standards.

The EU’s Chief Observer Castaldo said: “Ultimately the elections fell short of many regional and international standards, including key principles of equality, universality, transparency and accountability.”

The EU report says: “While election day was assessed by the EU EOM as largely calm, the election process overall was hampered by significant issues regarding the independence and transparency of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The ZEC missed opportunities to increase public trust in the integrity of voting and results management”.

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15:15

MARAMBA PFUNGWE (Mash East)

Chimunhu Chiratidzo (CCC): 1 448

Karumazondo Tichawona (ZANU PF): 25 757

ZANU PF supporters love it when this constituency starts reporting. In 2018, Karumazondo won 24 317 votes over MDC-A candidate Admire Chakwiza’s 929 in 2018. CCC will see the additional 519 votes that it got here as a victory, given how tough it has been for them to crack the constituency.

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15:00

UZUMBA (Mash East)

Konono Cosmas (CCC): 1 977

Muchemwa Wiriranai (ZANU PF): 24 588

One of the constituencies that fills ZANU PF supporters with delight, and fills opposition supporters with dread. In 2018, ZANU PF won 21 405 to MDC-A’s 1 850. The ZANU PF primaries gave a window into the party’s ground game there. Muchemwa won that primary with 9,166 votes out of a total of 15,480 votes.

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1400: ZEC results show CCC with 23 seats in the bag, with another four still outstanding. Of the four, CCC is mostly likely to get Harare West, Warren Park and Budiriro North. Results are still not confirmed in Churu, a constituency carved out by the delimitation from Harare South, which was held by ZANU PF.

The Harare results show ZANU PF now has three seats in the capital. The party won in Mbare; its candidate Martin Matinyanya was the sole ZANU PF councillor before he stood for MP in this election. He beat Starman Chamisa of the CCC. Tongai Mnangagwa also won in Hunyani, which was formed from Harare South, where he wasMP.

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Unprecedented: SADC criticises Zimbabwe election

For so long accused of endorsing flawed elections, SADC has taken a tough stance this time. Its observer mission says ZEC voting day delays, intimidation, and state-media bias means the election fell short of national and regional standards.

“The mission observed that the pre-election and voting phases of 23-24 August harmonised election were peaceful and calm. However, the mission noted that some aspects of the harmonised elections fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act and SADC principles governing democratic elections,” SADC Mission head Nevers Mumba said.

Read more on this here:

In rare criticism, SADC says Zimbabwe’s election “fell short” of standards

NKAYI SOUTH (Mat North)

Hadebe Jabulani (CCC): 6269

Mathe Stars (ZANU PF): 5066

CCC takes the seat from ZANU PF, continuing its strong run in Mat North in this election. In 2018, ZANU PF won with 7 312 votes after the opposition split its vote between the MDC-T’s Abednico Bhebhe, who got 3 923, and MDC-A’s 6 647.

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CHIPINGE SOUTH (Manicaland)

Hlatswayo Clifford (CCC): 11 039

Enock Porusingazi (ZANU PF): 8 090

CCC grabs the seat from ZANU PF. In 2018, Porusingazi won with 9 382 over 7 870 for Hlatswayo. Porusingazi is unpopular among ZANU PF supporters there. He lost the party primaries to Robert Nyemudzo, who was promptly arrested for allegedly “brewing illicit brew”. ZANU PF then reinstated Nyemudzo, but the party changed its mind again, imposing Porusingazi and angering voters.

Hlatswayo, meanwhile, ran a strong campaign in the constituency.

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MT PLEASANT (Harare)

Gwasira Beadle (ZANU PF): 7 787

Machokoto Jonathan (CCC): 5 510

Mahere Fadzayi (CCC): 12 865

Another closely watched election. In 2018, Mahere ran as an independent. She came third, winning 4 388 votes. The winner was MDC Alliance’s Stanley Banda with 9 357 votes while ZANU PF’s Jaison Massade came second with 5 295. This time, Mahere stood under CCC. But hers was one of several constituencies with “fake CCC candidates” – in this case Machokoto – which the party said was a ZANU PF ploy to split their votes.

With the votes that went to Machokoto, Mahere would have garnered 18 375. Reflecting voters’ intentions, Chamisa won 18 156 votes to Mnangagwa’s 7 920.

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BINGA NORTH (Mat Morth)

Munsaka Kudakwashe (ZANU PF): 9 663

Sibanda Dubeko Prince (CCC): 13 530

Sibanda retains his seat. In 2018, he won by 18 428 to ZANU PF’s 7 751. The ruling party has managed to narrow its loss margin, after heavy campaigning there by the party, including a Mnangagwa rally where he donated fishing rigs and bicycles.

Munsaka is the president of Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), a group the opposition accuses of helping ZANU PF manipulate the election. FAZ denies it, and Munsaka says his group is only a voluntary ZANU PF affiliate acting as the “eyes and ears” of the party.

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What are regional election bodies saying about the vote?

The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries (ECF-SADC), a body of election management bodies in the region, is observing Zim elections. The head of the mission, Mphasa Mokhochane says while the election run up had been peaceful, they were ‘disappointed’ that some stations were not open on time because ballots were late.

Mokhochane said it was important that voting had been extended to allow everyone to vote.

On the security of the ballot, he added: “The point that the ballot paper up to now, nobody has seen ballot papers thrown on the streets, no one is having a procession with ballot paper. That means all the ballots were secured, it makes those elections credible.”

DZIVARASEKWA (Harare)

Chamatowa Lovemore (ZANU PF): 9 227

Edwin Mushoria (CCC): 16 453

Mushoriwa was first voted into the seat in 2000, and re-elected in 2005. He lost in 2008 after standing for the splinter MDC faction, and did not contest in 2013. In 2018, he made a comeback under MDC Alliance, winning 15 134 votes to ZANU PF’s 9 422.

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MANGWE (Mat South)

Sihlabo Vincent (CCC): 7705

Nleya Sindisiwe (ZANU PF): 6506

A Mat South win that will cheer CCC. In 2018, ZANU PF won the seat by 7 744 to MDC Alliance’s 4 536. After the delimitation, the constituency includes 3 wards from Bulilima RDC, 10 from Mangwe RDC, and 6 wards from Plumtree town council.

Nelson Chamisa posted his delight at winning the Plumtree council seats: “So excited to win Plumtree town council! This was under ZANU PF.”

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MATOBO MANGWE (Mat South)

Madalaboy Ndebele (CCC): 6701

Soul Mahalima Ncube (ZANU PF): 5046

Patriotic Khuphe (ZAPU) 1554

A good win for the CCC, which has been working hard to turn Mat South, which was dominated by ZANU PF in 2018. ZANU PF’s Ncube won the then Matobo South constituency in 2018 with 6 130 votes to the MDC Alliance’s 4 2016. Delimitation saw the creation of Matobo Mangwe.

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Government points fingers as observer missions prepare reports

Most observer missions start releasing their first reports of the election today (Friday). The European Union and the Commonwealth will release their reports this afternoon in Harare. A report by the SADC mission is also expected shortly. Ahead of the release of these reports, the Government has accused the EU of meddling. Government has also accused the head of the SADC mission, Nevers Mumba, of aligning himself with the opposition, an unusual attack by Zimbabwe on SADC observers. On Wednesday, Mumba said his team was concerned by ballot delays to some voting stations, saying ZEC had informed observers that all voting material would be delivered on time.

Mabvuko goes Scott free: Sakupwanya congratulates CCC winner

Scott Sakupwanya has conceded defeat in Mabvuku/Tafara and congratulated his opponent, CCC’s David Kufahakutizwi, a local councillor.

“After a hotly contested election, the people have spoken through the ballot and resultantly their voices are binding to us all,” Sakupwanya said in a statement.

The race was keenly watched by many, as it put to trial the “mbinga politics” that has taken hold in ZANU PF; rich dealers using money to grease their way up the food chain in the party.

Sakupwanya won a council seat in the area in by-elections last year and had hoped to become MP. He claims to have spent US$2.5 million on road resurfacing, and also spent big on donations – and even bringing in Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. He has promised residents free buses and pledged to pay school fees for local school kids.

Sakupwanya says “my pledges to the people of Mabvuku/Tafara remain in place”.

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COWDRAY PARK (Bulawayo)

Mthuli Ncube (ZANU PF): 6 513

Pashor Sibanda (CCC): 8 411

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube fails in his attempt to gain some political clout of his own. ZANU PF had targeted Cowdray, encouraged by a ward by-election win in 2019. Ncube invested heavily, resurfacing roads, drilling boreholes, installing power transformers and even providing free wifi. At one point, it looked like he was walking into Parliament MP Sibanda and 11 others were barred. But the disqualification was quashed. The court case may have, in fact, raised Sibanda’s profile and helped rally opposition support. 
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MASVINGO CENTRAL

Mavhaire Moses (CCC): 7 350

Zvobgo Eddison (ZANU PF): 9 967

Dzikamai Mavhaire and Eddison Zvobgo (Senior) were long time allies in ZANU PF. Their two sons have just competed on opposite sides, with Zvobgo (Jr) winning a tight race. In 2018, Mavhaire ran here under Joice Mujuru’s People’s Rainbow Coalition, winning just 689 votes. ZANU PF’s Edmond Mhere won it the last time with 8 152 votes over MDC Alliance’s 4 709.

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Did you know: In 2018, Emmerson Mnangagwa polled less votes than his party, but not by much. Mnangagwa won 2,456,010 votes, which was 21,698 more than the total ZANU-PF parliamentary votes – 2,477,708. In contrast, Nelson Chamisa was far more popular than his MPs in 2018. Chamisa got 2,151,927 votes, while his MPs got 1,643,366 votes, a gap of 508,561 votes. Will it be different this year? We will update this when full results are out.

Here’s what ED vs ZANU PF looked like in 2018.

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CCC says leader headed for win: The opposition CCC says it believes Nelson Chamisa is headed to victory and will not need a runoff, but criticised ZEC’s handling of Wednesday’s poll. Promise Mkananzi, CCC spokesman, said: “With the information we are receiving, it’s safe to project that President Nelson Chamisa has won the election resoundingly, enough to avoid a runoff.” However, Mkwananzi said there were reports of intimidation and vote tempering at many sites across the country, citing what he said was an attempt to stuff ballots at a polling station in Mt Pleasant.

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We were just as affected by delays – ZANU PF: ZANU PF says it was “just as affected” as other parties were with ballot delays on Wednesday, but said the problems were not enough to taint the poll. ZEC extended voting in 40 wards after it delivered ballots late. These are 27 wards in Manicaland, two in Mash Central, and 11 in Harare.

Asked by reporters if the delays were not part of a ploy by ZANU PF and ZEC to suppress votes in the CCC’s urban strongholds, ZANU PF’s Patrick Chinamasa said: “We have no influence whatsoever on ZEC. We were just as affected (by the delays). Remember that our strategy has been to storm what is considered the stronghold of the opposition, and results so far suggest we have succeeded.”

Chinamasa insisted that the 40 wards and the polling stations affected by the delays were only “a small percentage” compared to the areas where voting ran was not disrupted. Delay sin these “few” voting areas, said Chinamasa, cannot “tarnish the reputation of the whole election.”

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CHIKOMBA WEST (Mash East)

Mavetera Tatenda (ZANU PF): 19 620

Punungwe Emmanuel (CCC): 7 860

Mavetera, the former TV actress, stunned many when she beat Deputy Health Minister John Mangwiro in the ZANU PF primaries. She is credited with fueling the “4ED” trend when she launched the “Young Women 4 ED” in 2021. She became proportional representation MP for Seke-Chikomba in 2018. Mangwiro won the seat in 2018 with 17 079 versus 5 575 for the MDC Alliance.

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NORTON (Mash West)

Mliswa temba (Independent): 7 518

Shamu Constance (ZANU PF): 5 017

Tsvangirayi Richard (CCC): 13 089

Mliswa was the only independent candidate to win in 2018, winning 16 857 votes against 7 850 for the MDC Alliance candidate and 4 255 for ZANU PF’s Chris Mutsvangwa. Tsvangirayi has added 5 239 votes to what the MDC Alliance got five years ago, while ZANU PF failed to add any new support. Mliswa, one of the most vocal in the last Parliament, lost 9,339 votes from 2018. Mliswa lost two wards that voted strongly for him in 2018, while the emergence of a more popular, younger opposition candidate – compared to MDC Alliance’s Samere Matemere in 2018 – may also have swelled the CCC vote.

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NEWS UPDATE: ZANU PF says it is on target to reach a two-thirds majority in Parliament. As results came in, Patrick Chinamasa, the party’s finance secretary, told reporters on Thursday: “We are on full target with our predictions. We are on target to reach a two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly, already we are there. We are also on target to achieve 60-65% for our President in this election, that’s what we set out to project. I’m grateful to the electorate that this has been achieved.”

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MAKONI CENTRAL (Manicaland)

Nyika Shepherd (ZANU PF): 8 503

Sagandira Patrick (CCC): 9 644

Tekeshe David (MDC-T): 1760

Tekeshe won the seat in 2018 under MDC Alliance, garnering 12 531 votes to beat ZANU PF’s Patrick Chinamasa’s 9 256. Tekeshe this time comes third after contesting under Douglas Mwonzora’s MDC-T.

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GOKWE CENTRAL (Midlands)

Masvisvi Davison (ZANU PF): 12 315

Shava Hope (CCC): 11 317

It’s another close race in the constituency, which covers Gokwe centre and surrounding areas. In 2018, Victor Matemadanda won here with 9 997 votes over the MDC Alliance’s 8 207.

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SUNNINGDALE (Harare)

Goremusandu Christmas (CCC) 2 762

Kademaunga Maureen (CCC): 13 306

Magweba Loice (ZANU PF): 6 236

Kademaunga wins despite a contest from a “double candidate”. ZANU PF grew its tally from 4 138 in 2018, while CCC added to MDC Alliance’s 2018 vote of 10 599.

CHEGUTU WEST (Mash West)

Chigavazira Farai (ZANU PF): 11 308

Chivero Admore (CCC): 13 042

Gift Konjana (Independent): 875

CCC grabs back from ZANU PF a seat that should have been theirs in 2018. ZANU PF’s Dexter Nduna was in 2018 wrongly declared winner, but he served a full term after courts dismissed an appeal by the winner, MDC Alliance’s Gift Konjana, on a technicality. Konjana ran this time as an independent, and won just 875 votes. Chigavazira, a lawyer who specialises in climate change, beat Nduna in hotly contested primaries.

MUZVEZVE (Mash West)

Haritatos Vangelis (ZANU PF): 16 754

Marufu Nicholas Anyway (CCC): 6 425

Haritatos retains his seat. He won in 2018 with a bigger margin, getting 23 833 against the MDC Alliance’s 7 109. He was appointed Deputy Agric Minister in 2018.

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BIKITA EAST (Masvingo)

Mudzingwa Bornface (CCC) 7544

Zevezayi Court (ZANU PF) 9880

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ZAKA NORTH (Masvingo)

Murambiwa Ophias (ZANU PF) 12620

Zanga Munyaradzi (CCC) 7079

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ZAKA SOUTH (Masvingo)

Chiduwa Clemence (ZANU PF) 14 163

Manjengwa Trust (CCC) 5 536

Chiduwa is Deputy Finance Minister. He won the Zaka East seat in a by-election in 2019, getting 7119 votes. The delimination merged Zaka East and West into Zaka South.

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MWENEZI WEST (Masvingo)

Chifumuro Brilliant (CCC) 1054

Moyo Priscilla (Zanu PF) 14 391

Shumba Tafadzwa Dhererai (Independent) 6495

ZANU PF won here despite the threat from Shumba, who decided to run as an independent after losing out in the ZANU PF primaries. He accused officials of imposing Moyo.

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MASVINGO WEST

Ezra Chadzamira (Zanu PF) 10 472

Gasva Pedzisai (CCC) 9 458

Chadzamira is the Minister of State for Masvingo. He won in 2018 with 9 212. The CCC improved on the MDC Alliance’s 2018 tally of 4 694

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GUTU CENTRAL (Masvingo)

Chitando Wiston (ZANU PF): 13 683

Matthew Takaona (CCC): 6 439

Chitando, the Mines Minister, retains the seat. In 2018, he won it with 11 496 votes. He has grown his tally, beating publisher Matthew Takaona. The MDC Alliance had two candidates the last time, yet their combined tally was less than half of Chitando’s.

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CHIREDZI NORTH (Masvingo)

Bhila Roy (ZANU PF): 18 696

Fungai Chamisa (CCC): 2 584

In 2018, Bhila won with a big tally of 35 893 here. The MDC Alliance did not field a candidate then.

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EPWORTH SOUTH (Harare)

Bande Didymus (CCC): 1 867

Baramasimbe Solomon (CCC): 1314

Kudakwashe Chatambudza (CCC): 6 745

Taedzwa Mbofana (ZANU PF): 8 112

ZANU PF takes advantage of multiple CCC candidates to win the seat. Chatambudza was the official CCC candidate, but the opposition vote was split three ways. Combined, the three “CCC ” candidates had 9 926 votes, which would have been enough to beat ZANU PF’s Mbofana.

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CHIREDZI EAST (Masvingo)

Golden Maluleke (CCC): 3 922

Siyaki Mundungehama (ZANU PF): 14 265

Vhurange Mahlupeko (NCA): 262

ZANU PF retains the seats which it won in 2018 by 11 052 to 3 889.

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ST MARYS (Harare Metro)

Junika Norbert (ZANU PF): 7 728

Masarirevhu Freddy (CCC): 5 519

Mazhindu Brighton (CCC): 11 094

The race was closely-watched after Masarirevhu insisted on standing despite rejection from his party, CCC, who put forward Mazhindu as its official candidate. In 2018, MDC Alliance won the seat by 19 219 to ZANU PF’s 7 438.

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CHIREDZI WEST (Masvingo)

Chiwa Darlington (ZANU PF): 15 054

Machigere Nhamoinesu (CCC): 6 554

It is second time lucky for Chiwa. He stood there as an independent in 2018, coming fourth with 2 361 votes. ZANU PF won then with 15 759 over MDC Alliance’s 10 508.

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MAGUNJE (Mash West)

Jasi Gabriel (Independent): 453

Kusemamuriwo Tonderayi (CCC): 8 422

Monga Super (ZANU PF): 10 121

ZANU PF retains the seat. In 2018, Cecil Kashiri of ZANU PF won it narrowly with 6 726, shrugging off the challenge of Kusemamuriwo (5694) and former deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa, who stood as an independent and took some votes from ZANU PF, winning 5 598.

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HWANGE CENTRAL (Mat North)

Molokela Daniel (CCC): 9 167

Dube Reeds (ZANU PF): 5 157

It was a rematch between the two. In 2018, Molokela won by 15 702 to Dube’s 5 063. Dube could not add to his tally, dropping 94 votes. Molokela lost more; he is down 6 535 but still retained his seat.

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BIKITA SOUTH (Masvingo)

Mutodi Energy (ZANU PF): 11 396

Nyika Barney (CCC): 6 622

Mutodi moved from his previous constituency, Goromonzi West, to returned to his home area. In 2018, the previous ZANU PF candidate there won by 10 559 to the MDC Alliance’s 3 587.

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CHIREDZI CENTRAL (Masvingo)

Ropafadzo Makumire (CCC) 12 342

Francis Moyo (ZANU PF): 7832

In 2018, Makumire stood as an independent councilor in what was then Chiredzi West, beating both ZANU PF and the MDC Alliance. At 25, he was elected the Chiredzi Town Council’s Vice Chairperson.

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GWERU URBAN (Midlands)

Josiah Makombe (CCC): 12 450

Alex Mukwembi (ZANU PF): 5 422

In 2018, the MDC Alliance won the seat with 17896 to ZANU PF’s 7128

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MATOBO (Mat South)

Edgar Moyo (ZANU PF) – 7 366

Ngwenya Collen (CCC) – 6 219

ZANU PF grows its tally from 6 130 in 2018 while the CCC improves on the MDC Alliance’s 4 206