Addressing journalists in the capital this afternoon, ZEC Chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau said bad weather and a harsh terrain were affecting the movement of results in some parts of the country.
She the presence of wild animals and heavy rain were also affecting the movement of results in Mashonaland Central as well.
“In Mashonaland Central, collation is now at constituency level except for Ward 1 in Mbire District where it is reported that there are wild animals in the area and officers are reluctant to move out in their vehicles for fear of getting stuck on the roads and exposing themselves to the vulnerability of the said animals.
“In Ward 4, there are heavy rains while in Ward 11, Angwa River is full,” said Makarau.
She highlighted that returning officers in the affected wards were waiting for helicopter assistance.
“In Midlands, Gokwe South Constituency, a polling station that was supposed to be assisted by a helicopter could not receive the assistance as it could not take off due to misty conditions,” said Makarau.
She however highlighted that in most provinces, counting has been completed at the polling stations. Makarau said that results have been posted outside polling stations.
Makarau said that in Matabeleland South, collation had moved to the constituency centre with the exception of some results from wards in Umzingwane, Mangwe and Insiza North Constituencies.
She said that in these constituencies, returning officers were reporting challenges of fuel to move to the constituency centres.
She added: “In Harare and Bulawayo Provinces, collation has moved to the District collation centres save for two constituencies in Bulawayo Province. In Mashonaland East, the district election officers report that collation has moved to the constituency collation centres.”
Makarau revealed the arrest of a voter, Marshall Berejena, who was taken in by police for recording proceedings at a polling station at Sadza Growth point in Mashonaland East.
“In Bindura, a Ward Returning Officer sealed all polling station returns as well as the ward collation return in the ballot box together with the election residue before collation had been done at the constituency centre.
“The officer was advised to explain the predicament to all observers present, unseal the box and retrieve the required documents and then unseal the box,” said Makarau.
On another note, Makarau reported that ZEC had received “cases where a few of the referendum officers who were handling ink at polling stations in Harare and Masvingo reacted to the special liquid and had to be taken to hospital.
“The officers are being treated and the Commission is monitoring their progress,” said Makarau.
Post published in: News