Voting in by-elections ends peacefully
High turnout in several constituencies
Hundreds of people queue to cast their ballots for the Hurungwe West by-election at Chiroti Primary School yesterday
Herald Reporters
Voting ended peacefully in 16 constituencies yesterday in by-elections that were characterised by high turnout in rural constituencies and generally low turnout in urban areas that have traditionally voted MDC-T, with early indications pointing to a resounding victory for Zanu-PF.
Most presiding officers at constituency command centres, yesterday said winners were likely to be announced starting early morning.
There was heavy foreign observer presence in Hurungwe West Constituency, where Australian, Canadian and United States embassy officials were seen moving around in an area that reported a 26 772 voter turnout.
Nearly all polling stations in six constituencies in Harare, two in Manicaland, one each in Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North and the Midlands and five in Bulawayo, opened at 7am and closed at 7pm.
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Candidates attributed the low turnout in some constituencies to failure by some voters to meet polling stations’ closing time as they were at work.
In Harare East Constituency, election officer Mr Stewart Zvavambira said 5 618 voters had cast their ballots by 7pm, where 3 028 were males and 2590 females, while 1 360 voters were turned away.
“The reason for the high number of those turned away is attributed to voters coming to vote in the wrong ward, no proper identification as some were coming with drivers’ licence and not appearing in the voters’ roll,” said Mr Zvavambira.
He said the command centre would receive all results from the wards after which there would be verification and cross checking before an announcement of the results.
Earlier on in the morning, voting in the constituency started on a low note with only Pangula-Acturus Polling Station, just outside Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, recording the highest turnout of 500 voters having cast their votes by 9:30am.
It was a different situation at Highlands Junior School and Balantyne Shopping Centre, where only 12 and 15 voters had cast their votes by around 9am.
Presiding officer at Highlands Junior School Dr Beauty Mutsambiwa said the voting process had been peaceful and smooth.
In Harare East, Cde Terence Mukupe cast his ballot at Oriel Boys High School where less than 50 people had voted by 10am. In Hurungwe West constituency where former provincial chairman Mr Temba Mliswa and Cde Keith Guzah are contesting, voting was peaceful and the revolutionary party candidate was headed for victory.
In an interview after voting at Chiroti Primary School, Cde Guzah said he would win despite Mr Mliswa’s dirty tactics.
The Herald saw a green Land Cruiser near Fuleche Primary School with posters of Mr Mliswa.
“Elections have been free and fair. Zanu-PF will convincingly win with a wide margin and put to shame those that were agitating for the postponement of the election,” said Cde Guzah.
Presiding officer at Fuleche primary school, Mrs Lea Mapfumo ,said they were failing to give their superiors updates of voting process.
“There is poor connectivity here. We are struggling to give our bosses updates on polling process. We have resorted to sending them text messages, but we are not sure if they are getting to the intended recipients,” said Mrs Mapfumo.
At least 186 people had cast their votes by 12 noon at Fuleche Primary School.
Of the 186 people, 16 had been assisted to vote principally because of illiteracy attributable to old age while 30 had been turned away.
Of the 30 turned away, 29 did not appear in the voters roll, while one had no identification particulars.
At Chiroti Primary School, 102 had voted by 9 am with 19 of them having been assisted.
Presiding officer, Ms Vimbai Pachawo said at least 15 were turned away because their names did not appear in the voters roll.
In Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency in Mutare and Headlands constituencies, turnout was also low.
Voting progressed peacefully in Dangamvura – Chikanga constituency and Sheni Primary Polling stations recorded as little as 74 voters by 10 am.
Although Manicaland Police spokesperson Inspector Enock Chishiri, referred all questions to chief national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, voting went on peacefully and presiding officers interviewed confirmed that as well.
Candidates vying for the Dangamvura Chikanga constituency are Cde Esau Fungai Mufumi of Zanu-PF, Mr Pfugamai Mawire (Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn), Mr Ruramayi Musiiwa (NCA), Mr Piwai Gashirai (Freedom Party), Mr Chengetai Richard Kadzere (Independent), Mr James Mundenda (Independent) and Mr Kuziva Maundike (Independent).
In Headlands, turnout was poor in the morning, but improved as the day progressed with one polling station at Nehomba Primary School being overwhelmed by voters until ZEC directed voters to a nearby station.
Officer Commanding Rusape district Chief Superintended Garikai Gwangwawa ,confirmed the arrest of five people after they were accused of writing names of those who voted at Chiundu, Shangwe and Chironga polling stations.
The candidates are Zanu-PFs Cde Christpher Chingosho, David Mukunda of NCA and Albert Mukarakate, an independent candidate.
In Kambuzuma voting started and closed peacefully at all the 22 polling stations with elections officer Mr Koti
Exstaff donfirming the development.
Some of the nine candidates who contested the elections expressed satisfaction with the manner ZEC conducted the poll.
Zanu-PF representative Cde Tinashe Maduza said: “Nothing will stop the revolutionary party from winning this seat.”
Independent candidate Taungana Madhina said: “I do not have complaints as everything is going on smoothly.”
Although Kuwadzana elections officer Mr Gabriel Kadondo, declined to release the number of people who had voted by the close of business, at least 3 070 people had voted by 2 pm.
Zanu – PF’s Cde Betty Kaseke said: “I am confident that this seat is coming to my party. We have done our homework.”
Dzivarasekwa constituency elections officer Mr Collins Muchenjekwa said as at 4 pm 6 075 people had cast their ballots.
The situation was the same with Highfild West and Glen View where the revolutionary party is represented by Cdes Pyschology Mazivisa and Pius Madzinga respectively.
In Bulawayo, turnout was also generally low.
In Pumula constituency, Cde Godfrey Malaba, said he was confident of winning .
“The electorate has finally seen that the MDCs don’t have their welfare at heart as they selfishly abandoned them at the eleventh hour by boycotting the election,” said Cde Malaba.
The battle for the Pumula seat was between seven Candidates: Cde Malaba, Mr Albert Mhlanga who ran as an independent, NCA’s Mr Jackson Lunga, Mr Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu of Transform Zimbabwe and Messrs Zakhele Mpofu, Misheck Ncube and Morrison Maluso who contested as independents.
The Makokoba constituency in Ward 13 was a battle of seven candidates namely Zanu PF’s Retired Col Tshinga Dube, Mr Jonathan Ndlovu (Zapu), Mrs Mable Ngwenya (NCA), Mr Sehlelo Nkomo (Transform Zimbabwe), Mr Peter Wilson (Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn) and Independent candidates Mr Toan Dlodlo and Mr Sibangilizwe Msipa.
Efusini polling station at Makokoba shopping centre had the best turnout in the constituency with more than 400 people estimated to have cast their vote by 2PM.
In Mbizo Constituency, Kwekwe, Midlands Province there were long winding queues at many polling stations before 7am as the electorate wanted to cast early votes.
Zanu-PF candidate Cde Vongaishe Mupereri cast his vote at Chan Primary School.
He was in the company the Zanu-PF provincial spokesperson Cde Cornelius Mupereri.
“All is well I tell you. I am happy with the maturity shown by the electorate because they are voting peacefully,” said Cde Mupereri.
Provincial Elections Officer Dorcas Mpofu, said voting had started at 7 am when all the 20 polling stations opened.
Zanu-PF candidate for Luveve , Cde Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo, attributed the voter apathy to some saboteurs who distributed fliers on the eve of the elections informing people that the by-elections had been postponed.
“Numbers will not increase for as long as we have saboteurs causing voter apathy. Our people will not come out to vote,” said Cde Mlilo at Cowdry Park Terminus polling station.
In Pelandaba-Mpopoma constituency a voter, Mr Kelvin Tshuma of Mpopoma caused drama when he tried to vote using his high school ID at Nkulumane Primary School.