Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC’s Rydes Machekera yesterday narrowly won the Chegutu ward 2 by election over a ZANU PF rival.

Machekera defeated Zanu PF’s Prosper Mutongerwa in the by-election after he polled 240 votes against Zanu-PF’s 184. This means the MDC polled just under 57% of the vote against Zanu-PF’s 43%, a close shave considering MDC’s stranglehold in urban areas.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chegutu district election officer, Godfrey Maisiri was the returning officer.

“Last time, we lost because some of our members had jumped ship to the People’s Rainbow Coalition which was led by Joice Mujuru and this time they are back in Zanu PF. Come March 22, ward 2 will have a new Zanu PF councillor,” he said last week, as Zanu-PF bigwigs descended on the ward to help give him support.

MDC chief election agent, Emson Mukandiwa, said that although it was a close shave, it was a happy moment for him and his team nevertheless.

“It’s a happy moment for the MDC family, as we fought hard to retain this seat. Many thanks to the team that put up a spirited campaign.

“We hope to increase our winning margins in the 2023 elections by working hard for the people. People of Chegutu ward 2 have shown confidence in Rydes Machekera who they want to be their Councillor, and also in the national leadership of president Nelson Chamisa.”

The seat fell vacant following the death of MDC councillor, Memory Banda in December last year.