By Paul Nyathi|ZANU-PF has overwhelmingly defeated the MDC Alliance in the Chimanimani Ward 6 by-elections held on Saturday.

The ruling party candidate Ronnie Chimbarara got 482 votes defeating his nearest rival MDC Alliance’s Chiambiro Mukombapi who got 92 votes.

Three other candidates in the by election each failed to get up to fifty votes. The other candidates were Antony Chikoshana (PRC), Tapfumaneyi Mashudu (NCA) and Muchuuro Amin (Independent).

The ward fell vacant before the July 30, harmonised elections following the death of one of the candidates vying for the local authority post.

The MDC Alliance has vowed that it will participate in all the by elections that will come up in the run up to the 2023 elections. Previously under the leadership of founding President Morgan Tsvangirai, the party declined participating in any by elections.