Zanu PF takes Seke after MDC boycott

Zanu PF takes Seke after MDC boycott

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By Agencies

ZIMBABWE'S ruling party won a new parliament seat from the main opposition, which announced a poll boycott last month to press for electoral reforms, state radio reported on Friday.

"The ruling Zanu-PF has won Seke parliamentary seat following the failure by the opposition parties to present candidates," the radio said, calling this a major boost for President Robert Mugabe's party ahead of elections next year.

Won by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the 2000 parliamentary poll, the Seke seat fell vacant after the death of its opposition legislator this year. Seke is about 35km southwest of the capital Harare.

The late Tumbare-Mutasa was elected MP for Seke in after defeating Phinias Chihota of Zanu-PF by about 1 500 votes.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF now holds 98 seats in the 150-strong legislature and needs two more to push through constitutional changes. No further by-elections are scheduled ahead of next year's vote, slated for March - Reuter
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