Aspiring candidates from the two MDC formations toId the Zimbabwean that a Presiding Officer was working in cahoots with Zanu (PF) to bar persons wishing to assist illiterate voters and choosing to conduct the task herself.
MDC-N's aspiring Member of Parliament for Guruve North, Kudakwashe Chimanikire,
said: "We had a number of our supporters who went with their relatives to assist them but the Presiding Officer declared that she was the one who is supposed to conduct the duty," said Chimanikire.
His sentiments were echoed by the MDC-T candidate, Andrew Mupunga, who said the development had raised fears of a plot to rig the elections in favour of Zanu (PF).
When The Zimbabwean visited the place at around 5pm, a total of 748 people had cast their votes while 33 were turned away.
A total of 61 persons had been assisted to cast their votes.
When approached for comment over the allegations from the two MDC formations, the presiding officer identified as Nyepudzayi Mapurisa denied the allegations but admitted she had helped some illiterate voters.
"The people that I assisted here were illiterate but came here with no one to assist them and they actually approached me for help so, what you are saying is not the correct position. I actually assisted those people in the presence of two polling officers and one police officer," said Mapurisa.
In another development, the number of assisted voters at Mutota primary school in Guruve North's Ward 19 has risen to 103.
So far a total of 395 people have cast their votes while five were turned away.
Post published in: News
Is Mr. Mugabe aware that these election officials are discrediting his statements that Zimbabwe has a 91% literacy rate. How can these election officials be allowed to give out numbers that contradict “His Excellency, the Right Honorable Comrade”?
mugabe must step down too old and cheating the country