Candidates complain of phone jamming

The candidates who spoke to The Zimbabwean said they woke up to poor connectivity and suspect that they could be deliberately jammed. The problems is being encountered mostly by NetOne subscribers.

The government has a significant share in NetOne, which many also see as sympathetic to Zanu (PF).

“This has never happened before. My phone shows I have full reception, but I cannot call or top up my airtime. It is possible that my line has been tracked for some time and the intelligence system knows that I am running as a candidate,” said one aspiring councillor.

He is frustrated that he is failing to properly communicate with other people. No comment could be obtained from NetOne.

The service provider yesterday abruptly stopped a promotion it had been running whereby subscribers would get a free hour’s talk on NetOne lines for topping up with a dollar. It said the promotion would continue on August 2.

NetOne sent a message to subscribers, saying: “Please be advised that the (promotion) has been suspended from 6am July 31 to 6am August 2 2013.”

Subscribers are querying the timing of the postponement of the promotion, saying it could be designed to minimise the exchange of information during the elections.

From yesterday, many people have complained of failing to access the internet and having problems calling others, also offsetting a suspicion that they could be jammed.

In the meantime, ZEC has come under attack for setting up polling station hardly three metres away from a Zanu (PF) office in Shurugwi North.

An MDC-T agent who refused to be named said the polling station at Tongogara Growth Point was set up next to the Zanu (PF) office.

Said the agent in a telephone call: “We have protested to the Presiding Officer, who acknowledged the anomaly. The Electoral Act says a polling station must not be set up within 50 metres of a structure owned by a political party.”

He said over the past two days, a convoy of Zanu (PF) cars has been coming to the office, chanting party slogans and songs while also pasting candidates’ posters outside.

The posters were reportedly removed after the three MDC-T agents stationed at Tongogara protested yesterday afternoon.

An agent at the nearby Tumba school also claimed a traditional leader named as Phillip Hungwere had been hired as a Zanu (PF) polling representative, in violation of the law that stipulates that community leaders like him must not take part in active politics.

According to the agent, Hungwere is in the Zanu (PF) Ward 12 structures.