Zim opposition on top in major cities

Zimbabwe's main opposition party has won a key by-election in the capital Harare and taken all council seats in the second city of Bulawayo, according to results released on Monday.

Voting took place this weekend for two parliamentary by-elections, more than 200 council seats and seven mayoral positions across the country.

But the vote was marred by massive voter apathy, with only 11% of voters casting ballots in the capital, as well as sporadic violence reported in the economically stricken Southern African country.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) retained its Harare Central parliamentary seat with 2 707 votes -- more than twice the 1 304 cast for the ruling Zanu-PF party candidate, state radio reported.

The MDC has also won three mayoral elections, one in the western resort town of Victoria Falls, another in the southern town of Gwanda and a third in the northern lakeshore town of Kariba, state television said late on Monday.

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