Zanu PF’s Simbarashe Shonhiwa , popularly known as “Gweja,” secured a decisive yet controversial victory in the Masvingo Urban Ward 7 by-election held on Saturday, winning with 703 votes. While the outcome cements Zanu PF’s dominance in the city, it has also raised questions about voter apathy, alleged electoral malpractice, and the shrinking space for opposition parties.
According to official results released late Saturday night, independent candidate Struggle Desire Nyahunda came second with 192 votes, while another independent, Prosper Taruvinga Tiringindi, garnered 119. Tsungai Mandati, the wife of former councillor Tafara Masimba, received 58 votes. Out of 1,087 ballots cast, only four were spoiled.
The biggest upset came from Douglas Mwonzora’s MDC-T, whose candidate, Prosper Mataruse, managed a humiliating 11 votes across nine polling stations. In some stations, Mataruse recorded zero votes — an unprecedented result that highlighted the MDC-T’s continued decline.
Despite Gweja’s convincing margin of victory, turnout remained worryingly low at just 23.49 percent. Analysts say the figures paint a picture of widespread disillusionment with Zimbabwe’s electoral processes, with many residents staying away from the polls altogether.
Zanu PF’s Gweja Clinches Victory in Masvingo By-Election
While Zanu PF celebrated Shonhiwa’s win, opposition voices and civic groups raised concerns about the credibility of the process. Allegations of intimidation and vote buying swirled around the by-election, with reports that some voters were pressured to align with the ruling party.
“These elections are never free and fair,” said one Masvingo resident who declined to be named. “People are forced to toe the line because they fear losing access to food aid or other benefits.”
Though the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has yet to respond to the allegations, critics argue that such practices have become entrenched features of local elections, undermining genuine competition.
Perhaps the most shocking outcome of the by-election was the dismal performance of Mwonzora’s MDC-T. Once part of Zimbabwe’s main opposition force, the party has been reduced to a shadow of its former self, as reflected in the paltry 11 votes for its candidate.
Insiders revealed that Mataruse’s campaign was virtually abandoned by party structures. “Mwonzora should leave politics,” one campaign team member said in frustration. “He has failed as party president, especially in his lack of support for his candidate, unlike in the Epworth campaign where he at least tried to show up.”
The humiliation has fueled further doubts about Mwonzora’s political future. Analysts note that the MDC-T is failing to field candidates in many constituencies nationwide, leaving the opposition space to independents and to Nelson Chamisa’s Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), which boycotted this particular poll.
For Zanu PF, Gweja’s win strengthens the party’s grip on Masvingo, a province considered strategically important for President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Known locally by his nickname “Gweja,” Shonhiwa has built a reputation as a grassroots mobiliser. His victory consolidates Zanu PF’s control of urban wards that were previously competitive.
Party supporters hailed the outcome as proof of the ruling party’s growing dominance. “This shows that the people trust Zanu PF to deliver,” one supporter said.
Yet analysts caution that the win is less about growing popularity and more about the weakness of the opposition and voter fatigue. “The victory margin is misleading,” said political analyst Ernest Mudzengi. “When only 23 percent of voters turn out, it tells you people are disengaged. This is not a ringing endorsement of Zanu PF but rather a reflection of a broken system.”
Masvingo residents interviewed after the vote expressed little enthusiasm for the results. Many argued that elections have lost meaning, as they rarely translate into improved services or livelihoods.
“We keep voting, but nothing changes,” said a vegetable vendor near Mucheke bus terminus. “No water, no jobs, no development. So why bother?”
Such sentiments underline a broader national mood of frustration, where citizens increasingly view elections as rituals rather than vehicles for transformation.
The Masvingo by-election has once again highlighted the structural weaknesses within Zimbabwe’s opposition, as well as the entrenched power of Zanu PF. While Gweja’s victory is a tactical gain for the ruling party, the extremely low turnout and the collapse of opposition participation raise troubling questions about the state of democracy.
For Zanu PF, the challenge is whether it can convert electoral wins into tangible improvements in people’s lives. For the opposition, particularly Mwonzora’s MDC-T, the message is far bleaker: its relevance has all but evaporated.
As one analyst put it, “The Masvingo poll was not really a contest. It was a coronation for Zanu PF and a funeral for MDC-T. The real story is the apathy — Zimbabweans are voting with their feet by staying away from the polls.”
Source – zimeye
