THE elections have left a trail of shattered dreams and unfulfilled promises, but on the flip side new opportunities and second chances have been created for some lucky candidates.
BY PHYLLIS MBANJE
As in any competition, there are winners and sadly, losers too. Various political parties fielded their “best candidates” in last Wednesday’s harmonised elections and were all hoping to get that golden opportunity to serve in parliament.
Last week, The Standard had an opportunity to speak with some of the winners and losers who shared their joys and despair.
Outspoken Jessie Majome of the MDC-T retained the Harare West constituency and said she owed it to her supporters.
She garnered 9 996 votes while her opponent Zanu PF’s Varaidzo Mupunga only managed a paltry 3 530 votes.
“I’m so humbled by the people of my constituency who stood by me throughout the process and today we share this victory together,” she said. “I would not have done it without their support.”
Majome said she would up her game and intensify the projects she was working on.
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“I look forward to working with people from my constituency as before and urge them to approach me for anything. I will do the same, if I have issues that want clarity, I will go to them.” Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial chairman, Ray Kaukonde romped to victory with 9 378 votes in Marondera Central, beating James Ian Kay of MDC-T who got 7 892 votes. An excited Kaukonde said it was time to join hands and address key economic challenges bedevilling the country.
“Yes, there is time to celebrate but we should focus on matters of concern,” said Kaukonde. “Right now people are having only two meals a day, we want to go back to three meals like before.”
MDC candidate for Bulawayo East, David Coltart lost to MDC-T’s Thabitha Khumalo who had 4 560 votes. He described the elections as highly “suspicious” and riddled with irregularities in a statement widely circulated on the internet.
“In my view, the entire election was illegal — for example, I have still not received a copy of the electronic voters’ roll which I was entitled to and which was a key mechanism to counter rigging,” Coltart, who is also the Education minister, said.
Among those who lost elections are political flip-flopper, former Tsholotsho MP Jonathan Moyo, Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jameson Timba, Housing minister Giles Mutsekwa and Energy minister Elton Mangoma.
Time not yet ripe for comments — Makoni
Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD) leader Simba Makoni who was sanctioned by the MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai for Makoni Central at the last minute was pitted against Zanu PF’s Patrick Chinamasa. He also got 3 411 against Chinamasa’s 7 654 votes.
Makoni, whose endorsement was opposed by some party members including the previously selected candidate, Patrick Sagandira, said he would issue out a statement once all the results have been announced.
“The process is not yet over so I will not comment now but will call for a press conference once all the results have been announced. It is premature to be issuing any statements at the moment,” he said.
Makoni said the election was fraught with irregularities and “massive rigging”.
“The election was massively and terribly rigged, everyone knows that. There was a myriad of anomalies, from the printing of ballots, people being bussed in to create large numbers and a voters roll with dead people on it,” he said.
