ZRP deploys ahead of elections

With five days to go before the July 31 general elections, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has deployed its police force to man the polling stations being set up across the country.

A snap survey carried out by The Zimbabwean in the capital shows that the country is already in election mode, with tents, desks, ballot boxes, generators and chairs, among others, being moved to polling stations in such areas as Mbare, Southerton, Waterfalls, Highfields, Chitungwiza, and Harare South.

A police officer at Mbare Shawasha Grounds who spoke on condition of anonymity said the main reason they have been deployed was to secure the polling stations ahead of elections.

“We are deployed so that we can secure furniture and material at the polling stations as we are approaching election day,” said the officer.

Hundreds of details gathered at Morris Depot and other stations for the deployment, with some admitting that they would not be able to cast their ballots on election day, having failed to do so during the July 14-15 special voting days.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Deputy Chairperson, Joyce Kazembe, said there would be 9,735 polling stations countrywide.

“Preparations are at an advanced stage. For the actual, voting we require two police officers per station. One who would be outside, controlling queues and maintaining order while the other would be at the entrance liaising with polling agents,” she said.

ZRP national spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba could not disclose the number of officers deployed.

“For security reasons I cannot tell the public the actual number of officers we have deployed but we have deployed enough to do the job,” she said.

Schools officially closed today, giving way to elections as most of them house polling stations.

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