Election update

The Elections Watch
29 March 2008
Time: 09:13

Bulawayo…
Two MDC Tsvangirai polling agents at Barham Green and Maphisa polling stations in Bulawayo South were reportedly denied access into the polling stations after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) alleged that their names did not appear on the final list of polling agents. It has been claimed that the average time eight people are taking to cast their votes is 25 minutes.

Lupane West…
At Ndlovu Polling station, Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) election observers were allegedly barred from wearing their green t-shirts as it was claimed that the t-shirts were of the same color as the ballot papers for Parliamentary votes.

Harare…
Zanu PF youths are reportedly putting up the ruling party’s posters near Kuwadzana Community Hall polling station. MDC polling agents and some local observers have been battling to pull the posters down although the youths are re-pasting them and threatening to continue until voting ends.

Mashonaland Central…
Muzarabani- A house belonging to Musindisi Kiswell, an MDC polling agent in Muzarabani South was burnt to ashes while he was at the polling station two days before the harmonised election. The Coalition could not immediately verify this information.

Bindura north…
In Chiwaridzo Township Ward 10, an MDC aspiring councilor only identified as N. Dhokotera identification number 05-081618m15 and seven others yet to be identified had eight TelOne landlines removed from their houses for being MDC candidates in the harmonised elections.

Masvingo…
The process has allegedly been very slow with only 35 voters having cast their vote by 8am. Many people were turned away for various reasons, mainly because their names did not appear on the voters’ roll. Ironically, when they inspected the voters’ roll in February their names were appearing. Notably this occurred at Runyararo Primary School Polling Station where people between the 18-35 age group were affected.

In Masvingo North constituency, at Mazare Polling Station, a ballot book with serial numbers ranging from 23201 to 23300 is reportedly missing. At Bossimine Polling Station another ballot book serial numbers 4601- 4701 has been reported missing. In addition, a man was allegedly allowed to cast his vote at Rujeko Polling Station without producing any identification particulars although his name is on the voters’ roll. It is a legal requirement to produce identification documents before casting a vote.