The figures show that 35,266 new voters registered in Mashonaland East, 31,570 in Mashonaland West and 29,635 in Mashonaland Central while Bulawayo and Matabeleland South had 5,068 and 9,403 respectively.
Zanu (PF) spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said in a telephone interview there was nothing much to celebrate concerning news that Mashonaland recorded the highest number of new voters during the first round of the voter registration process. “We do not know whether this will translate to a victory for us or not. The people will go to make their choices so we cannot conclude whether the figures indicate a victory for us,” said Gumbo.
Matabeleland North recorded 13,536 with the Midlands recording 23,404 first-time voters. Manicaland recorded 24,024 while Masvingo and Harare recorded 20,610 and 11,525 respectively. Numerous reports by our correspondents around the country as well as from civil society organisations indicate that people in all the main centres were finding it extremely difficult to register. ZEC officials were accused of obstructing would-be voters in a wide variety of ways.
Analysts were sceptical about the ballooning number of first time registrations in Mashonaland, suggesting that this was yet another a Zanu (PF) rigging strategy.
Meanwhile Facebook character Baba Jukwa recently predicted a humiliating defeat for Zanu (PF) at the next elections.
“My party is grappling with its total collapse in seven of the 10 provinces,” said Baba Jukwa who has been giving Zanu (PF) and security agents’ sleepless nights. Don’t be confused by charlatans with double speak. My [Zanu PF] party is not even prepared. In some constituencies, we don’t have even aspiring candidates. The rules to govern our primary elections are not even ready and we are hoping to start deliberating on them at the next politburo meeting,” he added.’
Post published in: News