HARARE: Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-PF, has clinched a decisive victory in parliamentary by-elections, securing a super-majority that now allows it to potentially amend the constitution and extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term.
The party’s clean sweep in all six constituencies contested on Saturday follows a political maneuver that led to the dismissal of six opposition MPs.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairman Rodney Kiwa confirmed the results, stating, “Elections went well. ZANU-PF has won in all six constituencies. I do confirm that position.” This outcome marks the second round of parliamentary by-elections since the onset of a political crisis that has weakened the opposition and could further solidify 81-year-old Mnangagwa’s hold on power.
Political Crisis in Zimbabwe
With a super-majority of 190 seats out of the total 280 (with two seats vacant), ZANU-PF now has the authority to amend the constitution, a move analysts and opposition activists fear could remove the two-term limit on the presidency, enabling Mnangagwa to seek re-election.
The vacant seats arose after Sengezo Tshabangu, a self-proclaimed interim secretary general of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), orchestrated the recall of six party MPs. Opposition supporters claim that Tshabangu is a ZANU-PF puppet, strategically placed to disrupt the opposition and pave the way for the ruling party’s majority, consolidating Mnangagwa’s rule.
“The ruling party has demonstrated that it will not stop at anything in their push for a one-party state and an all-powerful president,” remarked Obert Masaraure, spokesman for the civil society umbrella group, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.
