Zimbabwe News – ZANU PF has secured a double victory in the Bulawayo Ward 1 and Hwange Rural District Council Ward 18 by-elections held on Saturday, 3 October 2026, with the party’s candidates emerging victorious in both local authority contests.
The results, declared by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), saw Mathias Tichaona Tsikira win the Bulawayo Ward 1 seat, while Nkosilathi Mkandla secured the Hwange RDC Ward 18 council seat.
The outcome gives ZANU PF both of the local authority positions that were contested during the by-elections and represents a strong showing for the ruling party at grassroots level.
In Bulawayo Ward 1, Tsikira recorded a commanding victory after polling 1,590 votes.
Independent candidate Shepherd Sithole was a distant second with 112 votes, while CCC candidate Mduduzi Sibanda received 74 votes.
The ZEC declaration recorded 15 rejected ballot papers and a percentage poll of 12.4 percent.
Following the conclusion of the counting process, Tsikira was declared duly elected councillor for Ward 1 of the City of Bulawayo.
His substantial margin over the two competing candidates made the Bulawayo contest the more decisive of the two elections in terms of the winning candidate’s vote advantage.
The result places Tsikira in the position of representing residents of Ward 1 within the Bulawayo City Council and gives him a fresh mandate to participate in local government decision-making and community development.
In Hwange RDC Ward 18, ZANU PF’s Mkandla also emerged victorious, although the contest was considerably closer.
Mkandla received 326 votes to defeat independent candidate Thadeos Kafunga, who polled 194 votes.
Another independent candidate, Raymond Ndlovu, received 103 votes.
The ZEC declaration recorded three rejected ballots, while the percentage poll stood at approximately 42.2 percent.
Mkandla was subsequently declared duly elected councillor for Hwange RDC Ward 18.
The result marked another gain for ZANU PF and completed the party’s clean sweep of the two local authority seats contested on Saturday.
The two wards presented different electoral dynamics, with the Hwange contest recording a significantly higher percentage poll than Bulawayo Ward 1.
Earlier information released by ZEC showed that a combined 15,892 registered voters were eligible to participate across the two wards.
Bulawayo Ward 1 had 23 polling stations established for the election, while four polling stations were established in Hwange RDC Ward 18.
The turnout figures and voting patterns provide a snapshot of participation in the two communities, while the final declarations formally confirmed the candidates who will now take up their respective council responsibilities.
The victories come as the Government continues to place emphasis on local development as part of its broader national development agenda towards Vision 2030.
ZANU PF has consistently linked its political programme to the Government’s development priorities under President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, with the party presenting infrastructure development, economic empowerment, service delivery and community development as key components of its agenda.
The results are therefore likely to be viewed by the ruling party as an endorsement of its political direction and continued grassroots mobilisation.
However, winning an election also brings expectations from the electorate, particularly at local government level where councillors have a direct connection with communities.
Tsikira and Mkandla will now be expected to represent residents in their respective wards and participate in efforts to address local priorities.
Councillors have an important role in local authority structures, where decisions can directly affect issues such as roads, water and sanitation, refuse collection, public infrastructure, environmental management and community facilities.
The newly elected representatives will therefore have to balance their political mandates with the practical needs of the communities they now serve.
For residents, the significance of the by-elections extends beyond the political competition itself.
Local authority elections determine who represents communities in councils responsible for many of the services that affect everyday life.
The performance of elected councillors can consequently have a direct impact on how residents experience municipal and rural district council services.
The Bulawayo result is particularly notable because of the city’s importance as Zimbabwe’s second-largest urban centre.
Tsikira’s decisive margin gives ZANU PF representation in Ward 1 and provides the party with an opportunity to strengthen its engagement with residents in the ward.
In Hwange, Mkandla’s victory came after a more competitive contest, with the winning candidate receiving 326 votes compared with Kafunga’s 194.
The narrower margin highlights the importance of continued engagement with voters and community stakeholders after an election.
The results also demonstrate the varied nature of Zimbabwe’s local electoral contests, with candidates competing under different political labels and independent candidates featuring prominently in both wards.
While ZANU PF won both seats, independent candidates secured significant numbers of votes, particularly in Hwange Ward 18.
The by-elections therefore provide an indication of the competitive environment at local government level and the importance of candidate support within individual communities.
For ZANU PF, the immediate outcome is straightforward: two seats contested, two seats won.
The party can now turn its attention to ensuring that its newly elected councillors effectively represent their wards and contribute to local development.
For Tsikira and Mkandla, the electoral victory marks the beginning rather than the end of their responsibilities.
Their success will ultimately be measured by how effectively they engage residents, raise community concerns through council structures and contribute to practical solutions.
As Zimbabwe continues pursuing its development objectives towards Vision 2030, local authorities remain an important part of the implementation process.
Effective councils and responsive councillors are essential for translating broader development objectives into projects and services that have a direct impact on communities.
The 3 October by-elections have therefore delivered a clear political result while placing fresh responsibilities on the two successful candidates.
ZANU PF’s double victory in Bulawayo Ward 1 and Hwange RDC Ward 18 gives the party further representation at local government level and provides Tsikira and Mkandla with an opportunity to demonstrate what they can deliver for the communities that elected them.
The focus now shifts from campaigning and voting to representation, accountability and service delivery.