The primary elections were set to begin at 7am and end at 7pm but by as late as 12 noon, Zanu (PF) supporters in Kuwadzana extension had no clue as to the voting programme as well as the venue.
At around 1pm, Zanu (PF) members gathered at an open space near Kuwadzana Extension Shopping Centre to conduct the voting process.
Interviewed supporters cited a lack of coordination and proper planning prior to the holding of the primary elections.
"Most of the people had no clue as to the venue of the primary elections and this led to people being directed to various venues only to find out there was no activity. It was after consultation that the leaders settled for this place," said a Zanu (PF) activist.
He said that initially, the party had chosen Kuwadzanma 8 Primary School as the venue for the primary elections but was forced to make a sudden change of plans after discovering that voter registration was taking place at the learning institution.
The slow start to the primary elections consequently led to a low turnout of voters, a development which the party activists attributed to frustration that led to people returning to their homes.
The process was however peaceful at the time The Zimbabwean visited the area.
In Kuwadzana 5, the critical shortage of venues proved to be yet another huge obstacle to the smooth flow of the Zanu (PF) primary elections.
The party was forced to conduct the primary elections at a house belonging to one of its activists near Kuwadzana 7 Primary School.
By the time The Zimbabwean arrived at the place at around 11am, the party members were trickling to vote in their small numbers with police maintaining their presence to guard against possible outbreaks of violence.
However, The Zimbabwean gathered that some of the party members had gathered at various venues as early as 7am only to be told that they will be informed as to the venue of the primary elections.
They told The Zimbabwean that the process began at around 9.30am.
In Kuwadzana 5, the situation was peaceful as well when The Zimbabwean visited the area.
At Magamba Hall in Warren Park, the turnout was low as well.
Here, The Zimbabwean gathered that the voting process delayed by nearly two hours after a shortage of stationery was cited by the party officials.
Post published in: News