By Staff Reporter
Zanu PF candidate John Paradza has won the Gutu West parliamentary by-election following a weekend poll that saw the politician garner 12 147 votes.
However, his vote tally came down compared to what he garnered in 2018.
The poll also saw independent candidate Martin Mudzingwa come a surprise second with 1 775 votes.
CCC candidate Ephraim Morudu polled 1 258 while NCA’s Robson Kurwa got 138 votes.
Zanu PF was defending the Gutu West seat which was won by Paradza in the 2018 elections.
The weekend poll did not take place at the same time with the August 23 Zimbabwe general elections after a candidates who had filed to challenge for the seat died.
After winning the Gutu West, Zanu PF now has 24 out of 26 seats in Masvingo province.
In 2018, Paradza won the seat with 14 139 votes while the then MDC Alliance candidate Stanley Manguma got 2 998.
Knowledge Mupini, who was another MDC Alliance candidate in the same election, polled 536.
The 2023 Gutu West by-election took place at a time dozens of CCC MPs and councilors are being bundled out of their seats by parliament and government on the orders of self-imposed party secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu.
