The area is dominated by people of Malawian and Zambian origin whose parents and forefathers migrated to Zimbabwe from the 1950s in search of jobs.
An average of 35 voters had been turned away by 12 noon at various polling stations in the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency because they were not Zimbabwean citizens.
At Tsinhirano (A) polling station, a total 51 had been turned away while 315 had successfully cast their vote .
Twenty nine people had been turned away at Tafara High 1 whilst 40 people were barred from voting at Mabvuku Polyclinic.
Some voters were also turned away after they produced drivers’
licenses, photocopies of identity documents while some had IDs with unclear pictures.
The Zimbabwean talked to some “aliens” who expressed disappointment for being denied a chance to vote.
“ We thought since it was about the constitution of the country we would be allowed to vote,” said James James of Malawian descent but was born in Zimbabwe.
“ The cost of securing documents to apply for citizenship is very high, we can’t manage it. We came in large numbers because we thought it was a referendum on a constitution that would also determine our future,” James said.
There were no queues at polling stations except at Chikurubi Support Unit.
No cases of violence had been recorded by afternoon.
Post published in: News