The Nkulumane Constituency by-election recorded a low voter turnout of 22.7 percent, with 3,416 votes enough to secure victory for ZANU PF candidate Freedom Murechu, according to results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Out of 22,833 registered voters, fewer than a quarter participated in the poll.
Murechu won the election after polling 3,416 votes, ahead of Rodney Donovan Jele (Independent) who received 745 votes. Auxilia Zitha (Independent) came third with 325 votes, followed by Mothusi Madlela Ndlovu (CCC) on 320 votes.
The remaining candidates recorded the following results: Fuzwayo Mbuso (Independent) with 121 votes, Vivian Viyo Siziba (ZAPU) 110, Alson Moyo (EFF Zimbabwe) 65, Ethel Sibanda (MDCT) 23, and Nompilo Malaba Ncube (ZANC) with 18 votes.
ZEC reported 36 rejected ballots.
The by-election outcome has drawn attention to low voter participation, which remained the most notable feature of the Nkulumane poll.
