MDC celebrates 7th anniversary and loses 2 by-elections

By Tererai Karimakwenda
09 October 2006

It was good news and bad news for the Tsvangirai MDC this weekend as the party celebrated its 7th year in Zimbabwean politics with a huge rally in Highfield while participating in by-elections in Rushinga and Chikomba. MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa described the mood at the stadium event on Sunday as jubilant and said it was a time to reflect on their journey so far and on the challenges ahead. But of course they lost the by-elections to ZANU-PF candidates, Chamisa said the process had been manipulated and they would challenge the results.

Thousands turned out for the MDC festivities at Zimgrounds where President Morgan Tsvangirai told supporters the party was still mobilising for mass demonstrations but would not be rushed into it. He said the element of fear had to be removed from the people first. Asked when the mass action would begin Chamisa told us they would do things their own way and would not adopt templates used in other countries. He stressed that the party had already started with small actions and would soon move on to bigger ones.

Chamisa said the voters’ roll used in the by-elections was in a shambles. He said the ruling party made it impossible for them to get polling agents into these remote areas and alleged that an estimated 3000 MDC supporters were turned away without voting. Chamisa believes figures were manipulated and the counting process rigged. Asked why they had participated knowing the playing field was not levelled, he said elections are important because they are part of the struggle and help to expose the Mugabe regime for what it is. Chamisa added that institutions like elections will be part of a free Zimbabwe. He said the MDC needed to point out where they are flawed.

The parliamentary seat in Rushinga fell vacant following the death of Zanu-PF legislator Sandura Machirori. According to figures published in the state controlled newspaper The Herald, Zanu-PF candidate Lazarus Dokora polled 13 642 votes against 1 801 votes for the MDC candidate Kudakwashe Chideya. The report said this constituency had 39 650 registered voters.

In Chikomba, the seat fell vacant following the death of the Minister of Information and Publicity Tichaona Jokonya. Steven Chiurayi of ZANU-PF polled 11 247 votes while Amos Jiri of the MDC polled 4 243 votes.

Rural district council elections were held at the same time in these two constituencies even though the rest of the country still awaits a date. In Chikomba the ruling party won 13 unopposed seats and all 6 of the contested ones. In Rushinga Zanu-PF won 13 of the 14 wards that were contested. One ward went to the Tsvangirai-led MDC.