Most polling stations were a hive of activity as early
5.30am as voters trickled in from different directions seeking to be the first
to cast the vote.
Among them were first time voters mainly the youths, women
and the elderly who came with their assistants.
The outcome of the election will usher in the next
President from 11 candidates, a new Parliament with 210 National Assembly
members and 1 958 councillors.
In Bulawayo voting at some of the polling stations was
delayed by logistical issues such as late delivery of ballot papers among
others. In Bulawayo South Constituency, polling began three hours late but
determined voters endured the wait.
More than 300 people patiently waited for the voting to
start at Greenfield Primary School. Cde Raj Modi, the Bulawayo South Member of
Parliament candidate, commended the voters for their patience and orderly
conduct during the delayed voting process.
Similarly, Lobengula Magwegwe Constituency encountered late
starts in some wards due to delayed ballot paper deliveries. Despite the
setbacks, voters displayed remarkable patience.
Emakhandeni/Luveve constituency faced similar challenges,
with Ward 11’s Easy Pick shops polling station starting at 10:30AM due to
delayed ballot papers and ink delivery. Voters continued to trickle in until 8
PM to exercise their right to vote.
In Cowdray Park suburb, after a six-hour wait under the
scorching sun, residents, including Professor Mthuli Ncube, the aspiring
Zanu-PF National House of Assembly candidate, finally cast their votes.
Professor Ncube stressed his commitment to action and expressed pride in the
country’s economic achievements.
In Ward 23 of the Nkulumane constituency, 3 308 males and 3
769 females had cast their votes by 7pm. Assisted voters numbered 48 males and
107 females while 45 males and 35 females were turned away.
Voting in a majority of wards within the Bulawayo Central
constituency faced a late start, with some polling stations anticipated to
remain open well past midnight.
Despite the delayed commencement, the voting was smooth
throughout.
The Central Business District (CBD) experienced reduced
activity as most shops were closed as yesterday was a public holiday to allow
people time to vote.
Vendors and omnibus operators were notably absent from the
scene.
Voting was still on after 8PM at polling Stations in the Pelandaba-Tshabalala
constituency and at Induba Primary school Station, polling officers had to
resort to using candles.
In Matabeleland South voting progressed peacefully from 7am
with over 300 000 registered voters and 721 polling stations. In the morning
there were long winding queues at various polling stations in high-density
areas of Gwanda urban while the low-density areas were characterised by shorter
queues.
By 3pm, polling stations in Gwanda Urban had started
handling a handful of voters who were trickling in as the day progressed. Voters at some polling stations faced
challenges as their names were not appearing on the voter’s roll.
Most of them were able to get assistance and managed to
locate their names at other polling stations. Polling officers deployed at
various polling stations rendered assistance to voters who either had queries
or grievances.
The elderly and people with disabilities were given
preferential treatment at polling stations.
Matabeleland South provincial elections officer, Mr Rabson
Nyoni said all polling stations in the province completed the election process
on time.
“We made it a point that all outstanding issues were
addressed before the election day. The voting process progressed well and it
was peacefully across the province,” he said.
In Bulilima and Mangwe constituencies, voting went
peacefully until closing time at 7pm. Bulilima Constituency election officer Mr
Vincent Sibanda said by 5pm, 21 106 voters comprising 6 766 males and 14 340
females had cast their votes. The constituency has 19 wards and 76 polling
stations.
Early voting was witnessed in Insiza constituencies with
preliminary statistics showing that women dominated the polls as they voted
more than their male counterparts.
Insiza South National Assembly Zanu PF candidate, Cde Spare
Sithole was among the first people to cast their votes at St Matthews Primary
School polling station.
A prospective voter
collapsed at Nkankezi Shopping Centre on his way to cast his vote and was
pronounced dead upon arrival at Filabusi District Hospital.
In Gwanda South, the voting exercise was peaceful with
polling stations opening at 7am and closing at 7pm. Outgoing Gwanda South MP
and Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Abedinico
Ncube was one of the first voters at Buvuma Primary School.
Cde Ncube, who waited patiently in the queue for his turn
to cast his vote, expressed satisfaction with the voting process.
In Matobo Constituency, voting proceeded without incident
and less than 7 000 people had cast their votes by 6pm.
Constituency elections officer, Mr Marko Dube said
preparations for the elections went smoothly with ballot papers and other
equipment having been at polling stations two days before.
The total number of people who had been turned away at the
time of going to print stood at 16 while those who were redirected were 36,
among them media personality Mr Promise Mangena of the local community radio
station.
He managed to confirm his voting centre through the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) portal.
Mr Mangena checked his name at Minda Primary School only to
discover that he was supposed to vote in Mahetshe, some 6km away. Mr Dube said
over 360 males and 650 females were assisted to vote.
Matopo North MP, Cde Edgar Moyo who voted at Malundi Farm
at 11am, said the election was peaceful.
In Beitbridge Zanu-PF Vice President Cde Kembo Mohadi voted
at Beitbridge Government Primary School in Ward 2. In Matabeleland North
Province voting went on well with all but one polling station opening after the
prescribed 7am with the Provincial Elections Officer, Mr Richard Sibanda saying
no major challenges were encountered.
He said only Mazansia polling station in Binga South opened
at 730am as they were having challenges communicating with that station.
“We are happy with how the election were conducted. We have
one polling station that opened at 7:30am because of network challenges and
they closed at 7.30pm. We are now receiving figures from various polling
stations. Our only glitch is that some of the stations do not have network.
“In terms of voters, the challenge was that some people
were not found on the voters roll while some did not show up with the correct
documents hence they were turned away. We also had some who were turned away
because they were giving wrong addresses during the voter registration
process,” said Mr Sibanda.
Zanu-PF candidate for the Lupane East constituency National
Assembly candidate, Cde Phathisiwe Ncube expressed satisfaction with voting
process.
She cast her vote at Makhovula Primary school in Lupane.
United Zimbabwe Alliance leader, Ms Elisabeth Isabel
Valerio expressed satisfaction with the voting process, saying it was important
for all Zimbabweans to exercise their democratic right to vote. She voted at
Hwange Main Camp Primary School.
In Tsholotsho District voting began at 7am at almost all
polling stations and proceeded normally and peacefully for the rest of the day.
There were no challenges although the turn-out was a bit subdued at some
polling stations.
In Tsholotsho South, 4419 people were counted to have voted
late in the afternoon before closure of polling stations, with only 16 polling
stations out of 83 stations submitting figures to the command centre by 2pm.
Herald
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