SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
31 March 2008
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa became the first Zanu PF heavyweight to be defeated in the country's harmonised parliamentary, senate, council and presidential elections. As the first batch of official results were released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Chinamasa was beaten by little known MDC Tsvangirai candidate John Nyamande. Only a few months ago Nyamande was the interim chairman of the MDC United Kingdom Province, before he decided to go back home and seek a parliamentary seat. Nyamande told Newsreel, 'I'm over the moon. I cant believe it.' He says he did not expect to beat the Justice Minister who was backed by state resources.
Nyamande said the MDC had won overwhelmingly in Manicaland at both senate, council, parliamentary and presidential level. Although the ZEC is announcing the results in trickles Nyamande said their supporters already know they won. 'It's difficult for our people to contain their feelings and we urge them to remain calm,' he added. In another set of results released later in the day, another government Minister Chen Chimutengwende lost in Mazoe Central to MDC Tsvangirai candidate Shepherd Mushonga. Chimutengwende who is the Minister for Public and Interactive Affairs lost in a province that has traditionally tended to favour Zanu PF.
Meanwhile Zanu PF candidate and science and technology Minister Olivia Muchena, retained her seat in Mutoko South while Mugabe's nephew Patrick Zhuwawo won in Zvimba East. Other notable Zanu PF winners were Vice President Joyce Mujuru, Stan Mudenge, Saviour Kasukuwere, Nicholas Goche and Webster Shamu. On Monday late morning the MDC claimed that out of 128 constituencies tallied so far they have won 96 and that party leader Morgan Tsvangirai has 60 percent of the presidential vote. Robert Mugabe is trailing with 30 percent while Simba Makoni is third with 10 percent.
By early afternoon the results being announced by the ZEC were still tallying with the MDC's own figures. Biti said they now had more seats in the rural areas than urban ones. In figures released by the ZEC for 52 constituencies, Zanu PF was leading by one seat. The MDC claims Zanu PF will soon run out of positive results to announce. A website calling itself the Independent Results Centre, and we must stress this is completely unofficial, has the MDC leading with 117 seats, Zanu PF 50 and the Mutambara/Makoni bloc on 20. Tsvangirai is said to have 58 percent of the presidential vote, Mugabe 37 percent and Makoni 5 percent.
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