Zeli Munjiza has claimed a commanding victory in the Liverpool City Council South Ward by-election, with Labor declaring the result beyond doubt after Saturday’s poll and the Liberal candidate conceding defeat.
NSW Electoral Commission figures updated on 20 April show Munjiza on 21,080 votes to the Liberal candidate’s 12,020, a lead of 9,060 votes from 55,030 formal votes counted so far.
The result is a decisive boost for Liverpool Labor and a clear endorsement of a back-to-basics message centred on local services.
Munjiza said, “I am so grateful to the people of South Ward who have placed their trust in me.”
She added that the campaign stayed focused on “the council services that residents rely on.”
In one of the sharpest lines of the campaign, Munjiza said, “The people of South Ward and Liverpool have sent a clear message. They want Council to cut the grass, repair the roads and clean up the rubbish.”
With postal and other declaration votes still being processed, the scale of the lead has nonetheless made the outcome clear.
Munjiza will now join fellow Labor councillors Ethan Monaghan, Mira Ibrahim and Sam Karnib, presenting the party as “strong, united and ready to work for our community.”
Looking ahead, she said, “I’m ready to hit the ground running and work with the community to deliver real improvements across Liverpool.”
Photo: (Left to right) Councillor Sam Karnib, Councillor Ethan Monaghan, Councillor Mira Ibrahim and Councillor-elect Zeli Munjiza
