TWO traditional leaders in Zaka East, Masvingo Province
defied the Constitution in the just-ended parliamentary by-election by openly
declaring allegiance to the ruling Zanu PF and intimidating voters, independent
elections watchdog Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn) has said.
Zesn, which deployed observers for the Zaka by-election won
by Zanu PF candidate Clemence Chiduwa said there were electoral violations by a
headman, who openly wore the ruling party regalia to the polling station, while
the other doubled as a polling agent.
“Zesn is, therefore, concerned that at Vhurumuku Primary
Scchool, in ward 25 of Zaka East, a well-known headman was serving as a Zanu PF
party election agent.
In ward 32, a village head turned up to vote at Machiva
polling station wearing Zanu PF regalia. Though he removed the cap and put on a
jacket to conceal the Zanu PF T-shirt upon Zec’s instruction, the village head
went out and sat at the gate of the school, where the polling station was
located, within the vicinity of the polling station, in Zanu PF party regalia,”
reads part of the report.
The Constitution prohibits traditional leaders from being
members of a political party or participating in active politics.“While freedom
of association is provided for in the Constitution, traditional leaders are
bound by the same Constitution (Section 281) not to support any political party
or cause.
In terms of this Section (281)(2) traditional leaders must
not — (a) be members of any political party or in any way participate in
partisan politics, (b) act in a partisan manner, and (c) further the interests
of any political party or cause,” reads part of the Zesn statement.
The wearing of party regalia on election day is also
prohibited and is a criminal offence, which could lead to arrest of those who
violate it.Zesn said Zec could have done more to deal with the headman instead
of just asking him to conceal his party regalia.
“Putting on party regalia on election day is prohibited in
terms of the code of conduct for political parties, candidates, and other
stakeholders, schedule 7 (1) (d) of the Electoral Act which stipulates that “No
political party or candidate may, from midnight twenty-four hours before
polling day in any election or referendum until polling stations are closed on
that day — campaign or display campaign material within 300 metres of a polling
station or counting centre.
Zesn commends Zec for taking action. However, the
commission could have done more, possibly by turning the voter away for turning
up at a polling station displaying a party’s campaign material,” Zesn said.
MDC secretary for elections Jacob Mafume said they also had
incidence of violence with one of their polling agents being assaulted by Zanu
PF members, a report confirmed by Zesn.
“Zesn also received a report of a worrying incident of
assault of an MDC Alliance agent who claims he was beaten and had his phone
seized by Zanu PF supporters who accused him of taking photos of them busing
redirected voters to other polling stations.
Zesn strongly condemns any form of violence, particularly
in elections as it has a potential to impact on the credibility of an
election,” Zesn said. Newsday
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