Zimbabwe’s ruling party has won the majority of seats in local elections held in the countryside on the weekend, confirming its continuing popularity in its traditional stronghold despite biting economic problems, it was reported on Wednesday.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced late on Tuesday that the ruling Zanu-PF party won 765 seats out of 849.
The two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won a combined total of 81 seats, the state-controlled Herald reported. Three independent candidates also won seats.
The elections were held on Saturday to elect councillors for rural district council wards throughout the country.
The main MDC faction, led by former trade union leader Morgan Tsvangirai, complained the polls were heavily militarised.
”Election management has been heavily militarised under the current system,” spokesperson Nelson Chamisa was quoted as saying.
But Zanu-PF’s victory comes as little surprise given its dominance in the countryside.
The party has consistently resisted inroads by the opposition, despite searing social hardship caused by inflation of over 1 000% and spiralling poverty and hunger.
Even though the MDC enjoys strong support in the western Matabeleland provinces, the ruling party also won the majority of seats in these areas.
The ruling party had already won 482 districts unopposed before Saturday’s election after the opposition failed to field candidates in those wards. — Sapa-dpa