New poll projects Mugabe winning Zim poll

New poll projects Mugabe winning Zim poll

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By Lebo Nkatazo

ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe will win Saturday’s poll, a new survey said Thursday.

The poll conducted by University of Zimbabwe lecturer, Joseph Kurebwa, of the department of political science and administration projects Mugabe getting between 56- 57 percent of the vote.

The pollster predicted that opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai would come second with 26–27 percent while independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni is seen coming third with 13 percent.

Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a faction of the MDC is seen losing in the Zengeza West House of Assembly contest with 10 percent of the vote, with Collin Gwiyo of the Tsvangirai faction winning with 58 percent.

Kurebwa said among other reasons, Mugabe would win as he is also seeking change like the MDC through empowerment.

Early this month Mugabe signed into law the Indegenisation and Empowerment Bill that seeks to hand 51 percent shareholding in foreign companies to locals.

Kurebwa’s poll predicts Professor Welshman Ncube, the secretary general of the Mutambara faction of the MDC will win the Makokoba constituency with 43 percent, while Thokozane Khupe, Tsvangirai's deputy, is seen polling 40 percent. Zanu PF’s Tshinga Dube had 15 percent.

Emmerson Mnangagwa is shown winning in Chirumanzu – Zibangwe after losing the 2000 and 2005 parliamentary poll in Kwekwe.

In Makoni West, the poll said Nation Madongorere who defied Zanu PF and submitted his nomination papers as a ruling party candidate will beat the party’s official candidate and Agriculture Minister, Joseph Made.

In Tsholostho, the poll said Robert Ncube of the Mutambara faction will beat the incumbent, Professor Jonathan Moyo.

In Mazowe West, Ibbo Mandaza is seen trailing Zanu PF and MDC candidates, with the ruling party winning.

Job Sikhala is also seen narrowly losing to the Tsvangirai faction in St Mary’s while Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga is also seen losing to the rival faction candidate in Highfield West.

The latest poll results are in contrast to that of another survey released two weeks ago by the Mass Public Opinion Institute that showed Tsvangirai was leading by 28,3%, while Mugabe was behind with 20,3% of the vote. Makoni had 8,6 percent, but some 30 percent were undecided.

Political scientist Prof Eldred Masunungure, also of the University of Zimbabwe, who headed Mass Public Opinion Institute national survey, said the main message from the poll was that none of the presidential election candidates would win an outright majority unless there was vote-rigging.
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