Dube overcomes hurdles to win Hwange Central Primaries
Grace Moyo
Perrenial contender, Reeds Dube has once again won the ticket to represent the ruling Zanu PF in the upcoming Hwange Central Parliamentary elections.
According to preliminary results yet to be confirmed by the Politburo, the veteran politician gannered 913 votes in Saturday’s Primary Election to win by a huge margin. His nearest contender, Daniel Sithole managed 151 votes. Layide Muhango (79 votes), Alphas Dube (36 votes), and Jacob Linga (13 votes) were the other contestants.
A relieved Dube said he won against all odds as he had to overcome massive hurdles after he was “mysteriously disqualified.”
“I had to travel all the way to Harare on thursday to undo what my internal rivals had done. I did not have enough time to campaign. It was only on Friday that I was cleared to contest. Unfortunately for those who wanted me out of the race, i made it through,” said Dube.
Thuba Duke Ncube triumphed in the Youth Quota category with 200 votes as he shrugged off challenges from Ephraim Mulawu, Future Mhlanga and Alvin Sinzeka.
Politburo member, Fati Mpofu resoundingly beat John Dicks for the Senatorial seat. Mpofu racked up 911 votes to Dick’s 186.
Siphiwe Mapfuwa clinched the Women’s Quota by edging Memory Sibanda.
Under the local authorities cluster, there were six uncontested wards that saw Patience Maningi (Ward 1), Benson Munsaka (Ward 3) and Intelligent Tshuma among those that will represent the ruling party in upcoming harmonised elections slated for August.
Titus Chiwaya won in Ward 4 with 50 votes to Shepered Simukai’s 13. In Ward 5, Lindizwe Sijingo pipped Henry Zhira by 3 votes.
Petersen Ncube was the victor in Ward 7 after beating Blessed Chatukuta and Stephen Simukai.
Incumbent of Ward 9, Jonathan Mathe lost by an agonising one vote to Paul Mupoperi who got 68 votes. Sandra Dube and Prisca Sibanda were the other two contestants vying for the ward.
Wilson Mwanjali (95 votes) beat Augastine Sillah (75 votes) in Ward 11, while Aaron Rundofa beat other four candidates in Ward 14. Ndapota Sithole (182 votes) beat John Munsaka (119) to gain the right to represent Zanu PF in Ward 15.
Lewis Dube, a Zanu PF supporter said primary elections are now water under the bridge and called for unity as the party prepares for the watershed harmonised elections.
“In every contestation, there are winners and those that don’t make it. There are no losers here. By holding primary elections Zanu PF has won. We have schooled others on democracy. We hear they (opposition) are too scared to hold primary elections. This should be a lesson for them,” he said.
The main opposition CCC has said it will not hold primary elections, electing to use what it calls “community consensus” in choosing candidates to represent the party in the harmonised election.
