The duo, who waited for communication from the national command centre for about an hour ended up abandoning their duties. They advised The Zimbabwean that they were not comfortable being named.
The duo, duly accredited by Zimbabwe Media Commission and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to cover the constitutional referendum, expressed displeasure at the way they were treated by the polling officers at the three polling centres.
“The challenge is that there are many anomalies in how the polling agents are treating photo journalists,” said one of the journalists.
“We never had any challenges at Girls High School Harare, and many other centres in Avondale and Malborough where upon production of the accreditation card, the polling agent gave us the nod to take pictures,” said one of the camera persons.
She said they were told to take pictures outside the polling station at one polling station in Avondale and another one in Malborough’s ‘Red Roofs’ area, but, mysteriously, were barred at the centres in question.
Meanwhile, voters in the northern suburbs of Harare commended the Zimbabwe Republic Police for exhibiting professionalism at the polling stations.
The physically challenged and the elderly were being given first preference to vote, a move which was commended by most voters.
Police officers at Avondale Primary School could be seen assisting the elderly and the physically challenged by directing them to the front of the queues to vote.
Post published in: News