Although ZESN observers noted a smooth voting process with all polling stations opening on time with adequate election material, the organisation observed with worry the continued use of voting slips.
ZESN noted that a significant number of voters turned up with voting slips previously used in the harmonised elections held in July last year. The continued use of the voting slips by voters in the Chegutu by-election is a clear indication that the Registrar-General's Office had not updated the voters roll as some of the names of those with the voting slips could not be found in the voters roll.
This is a matter of concern as almost a year has elapsed since the last election. In addition, ZESN observed that the validation of the voting slips was being done by the presiding officers hence observers and party agents could not authenticate the voting slips to allay fears that voters not resident in the ward could have voted.
ZESN also observed some inconsistencies in the use of the slips as some voters using slips were allowed to vote and others were denied access to the vote. Some of those who were turned away highlighted that they had voted at the same polling stations during the Harmonised elections last year.
ZESN has since called upon the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure the standardization of procedures especially regarding the voting slips whose continued use in by-elections is a major cause of concern.
On the issue of assisted voters ZESN noted that the secrecy of their vote was infringed as the presiding officers provided assistance to voters in the presence of a polling official and a police officer. "Best practice would be for the assisted voter to bring a trusted person to assist them" ZESN said in a statement. ZESN observers at a polling station at Selous Tobacco which recorded the highest number of voters reported that there was bussing in of voters by the ZANU PF candidate. ZANU PF trucks were witnessed ferrying voters in batches to and from the polling station.
The observers noted that at all polling stations voters were asked to show the presiding officer the polling station stamp on the ballot paper before casting the ballot, a practice that was done away with under the Electoral Amendment Act 2013. This could be corrected by reinforcing the training of ZEC staff and adequate voter education on election procedures.
Despite the observers' concerns ZESN in a statement on the by-election commended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for its preparedness and professionalism in the organisation of the by-elections as well as the results management which saw all polling stations displaying on v11 forms.
Post published in: News
Us Zimbabweans amaze me. This use of slips was widely used in the 2013 elections and what was the opposition doing. We are all responsible for the chaos we are in today because we all allow ZPf to walk all over us and cheat and lie and steal and murder at will. What a useless opposition we have. we are log jamming ourselves. there is simply NO leader worth anything in this nation. We haven’t even been able to vet the voters roll. Would that be allowed in any other country????