The political fortunes of Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora and his beleaguered MDC-T party took another dramatic tumble over the weekend when their candidate in the Masvingo Urban Ward 7 by-election managed a humiliating 11 votes — a result that has sparked ridicule and renewed questions about the party’s relevance in Zimbabwe’s opposition politics.
The MDC-T fielded Prosper Mataruse, a little-known figure reportedly handpicked by Mwonzora himself, but the candidate’s campaign failed to register any serious traction. In fact, some polling stations recorded zero votes for him, underscoring the deep crisis that now defines the party.
For many political observers, the result is the latest confirmation that the MDC-T has been reduced to a shell of its former self. The once formidable opposition party that challenged Zanu-PF’s dominance for over two decades now finds itself on the margins, barely registering on the electoral map.
Veteran opposition activist Arnold Batirai Dube did not mince words in his assessment of Mwonzora’s leadership.
“This is the lowest point in opposition politics,” Dube said. “Mwonzora has completely destroyed what was once a people’s movement. Eleven votes? That is not a political party anymore; it is a joke. He must be honest with himself and resign before burying MDC-T completely.”
Stunning Defeat as Mwonzora’s Party Gets 11 Votes in Masvingo
Dube’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment even among former MDC-T members that Mwonzora has failed to inspire confidence, alienating supporters and leaving the party fractured.
The by-election itself was decisively won by Zanu-PF’s candidate Simbarashe Shonhiwa, who secured 703 votes. Independent candidate Struggle Desire Nyahunda came second with 192 votes, while another independent, Prosper Taruvinga Tiringindi, managed 119. Tsungai Mandati, the wife of former councillor Tafara Masimba, picked up 58 votes. Out of 1,087 total ballots cast, only four were spoiled, with the turnout pegged at a low 23.49 percent.
For the MDC-T, however, the numbers were catastrophic. Not only was Mataruse trounced, but his support was so negligible that in several wards his name did not even appear on the tally sheets.
Party insiders disclosed that Mwonzora and the MDC-T provincial structures effectively abandoned Mataruse’s campaign. Without resources, manpower, or visible leadership support, the candidate was left to fend for himself.
One campaign member, speaking anonymously, said: “Mwonzora should leave politics. He has failed as party president, especially in his lack of support for his candidate, unlike in the Epworth campaign where he at least showed up. Here, he was completely absent.”
The failure to back Mataruse has intensified internal grumbling about Mwonzora’s leadership style, with critics accusing him of neglecting grassroots mobilisation while focusing on internal power struggles.
The humiliating 11 votes mark a dramatic decline even by the MDC-T’s recent standards. In the 2022 harmonised elections, the party’s candidate in another contest, Gertrude Chuma, managed 27 votes — itself considered disastrous at the time. The latest result, therefore, signals that the MDC-T’s already shrinking base has now collapsed further.
Observers say this erosion of support demonstrates how the MDC-T has steadily lost credibility and visibility since Mwonzora assumed leadership through a controversial process.
Since 2023, Mwonzora’s MDC-T has failed to field candidates in most parliamentary and council elections. In Masvingo’s 26 constituencies, the party has been virtually invisible, leaving the opposition space to other actors. Critics argue this reflects both organisational paralysis and the erosion of any grassroots structures that once defined the MDC.
“The MDC-T under Mwonzora has become an empty vessel,” said a Masvingo-based political analyst. “It exists in name only, but on the ground there is nothing. People have moved on.”
Mwonzora’s leadership of the MDC has been marred by controversy from the start. His ascension was facilitated by a series of court rulings that stripped Nelson Chamisa of the MDC presidency in 2020, decisions widely viewed as engineered to weaken the opposition.
Allegations of rigged internal congresses — in which Mwonzora edged out rivals Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri, and Thokozani Khupe — further eroded his legitimacy. Many opposition supporters saw his rise as a Zanu-PF project, designed to splinter the opposition and dilute Chamisa’s momentum.
In light of the Masvingo humiliation, many within the opposition space believe the Mwonzora project has effectively collapsed. The once-influential MDC brand, which under Morgan Tsvangirai captured millions of votes and controlled dozens of councils, is now being reduced to single digits in local contests.
For Mwonzora, the latest by-election defeat has become a symbolic nail in the coffin. His critics insist that he has no political future, while even sympathisers admit the party faces near-impossible odds of recovery.
“The MDC-T is no longer a player in Zimbabwean politics,” said one analyst bluntly. “Masvingo just confirmed what everyone already knew — Mwonzora’s chapter is over.”
Source – zimeye
