Today, 30 July 2018, Zimbabweans from all corners of the county cast their vote that will determine leaders that will lead them in the next 5 years. Several parties and independent candidates have been nominated in various capacities in what appears to be the most widely contested election since independence. 23 candidates are vying for the presidency and several others contesting in the council and House of Assembly posts across the length and breadth of the country. Heal Zimbabwe Trust has deployed several human rights monitors on the ground to assess whether the election process is being held in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner. Added to this, Heal Zimbabwe has also deployed a mobile team of observers to monitor the political environment during the election.
What is commendable is that citizens from across the political divide have demonstrated through their individual efforts to ensure that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner that is free from intimidation and other electoral related malpractices. The case in point include Hurungwe ward 24 at Deve polling station where citizens defied the directive from Village heads to vote in organised groups.
Generally the environment is peaceful save for sporadic cases where people are being intimidated and force marched to polling stations. The majority of the polling stations opened on time save a case in Norton ward 10 where there was a disruption after one candidate’s name was not on the ballot paper.
Below is an afternoon update of the voting process
Hurungwe West ward 24
In ward 24, ZANU PF members Solomon Chiparo and Tafadzwa Zimuto are compiling names of people as they vote at Deve,Chisipite and Madudzo polling stations
In ward 24, at Chisipite Polling station, ZANU PF youths, Simon Pedzisai and Kenias Dube are compiling names of people as they vote
Muzarabani North ward 5
In ward 5, at Mufudzi Polling station, a Village head named Mufudzi is deployed at the polling station as a ZANUPF agent
Gokwe Gumunyu
In ward 16, at Choda Polling station, ZANU PF District chairperson Christin Matabva is compiling names of people who are to coming vote
In ward 16,former ZANU PF District Chairperson, Fadzai Chinyanyu is taking down names of people as they vote at Gravel Polling station
Muzarabani North ward 8
At Kapembere polling station, a Village head named Joseph Mubayirakuenda is stationed at the polling station as a ZANUPF Election agent
Mudzi North ward 1
At Nyamapanda Primary school polling station, Shingirai Chizhowa, a ZANU PF member is forcing people to submit names after voting.
Bikita East ward 25
ZANU PF chairperson Richard Mabiti went to Muvava Business centre and indicated that people were supposed to vote for ZANU PF candidates to avoid a repeat of the 2008 violence
In ward 25, ZANU PF chairperson , Richard Mabiti accompanied by several ZANU PF Youths ordered people to vote for ZANU PF today around 4am at Muvava Polling station
Chinhoyi ward 31
At Tswitsi farm polling station ,Mvere Denford and Mai Gwandira (all ZANU PF members) are taking down names of people who are coming to cast their vote
Bikita East ward 25
Howard Mataruse , a ZANU PF member and Simon Bvekwe, a war veteran are stationed at Muvava B.C threatening people with violence if they do not vote for ZANU PF candidates
Chivi South ward 25
At Ngundu Roman Catholic polling station, Village head Mike Matavire from Imbayago village is marking a register of people who are coming to vote.
Bikita ward 25
ZANU PF members Howard Mataruse and Simon Bvekwe are stationed at Muvava Business centre threatening people with violence if they fail to vote for ZANU PF.
Norton ward 10
The voting process was disrupted temporarily after National Constitution Assembly (NCA) aspiring Councillor, Alice Musa realised that her name was missing on the ballot paper. People started protesting outside the polling station.
Mudzi ward 1
At Nyamapanda Primary school polling station, Shingirai Chizhowa forced community members to submit their names after voting.
Gokwe ward 16
Former ZANU PF District chairperson, Fadzai Chinyanyu is writing down names of people as they vote at Gravel polling station.
Gokwe ward 16
At Choda polling station, ZANU PF District chairperson, Christin Matabva is compiling names of people as they vote.
Hurungwe ward 24
At Chisipite polling station, ZANU PF youths Simon Pedzisai and Kenias Dube are compiling names of people as they vote.
Hurungwe West ward 24
ZANU PF members Solomon Chiparo and Tafadzwa Zimuto are compiling names of people at Deve, Chisipite and Madudzo polling stations.
Mazowe ward 9
ZANU PF members Senzia Kaviya, Peggy Muzende and Tawanda Mutukwa are compiling names of people as they vote at Negomo irrigation polling station. The three are also threatening people with violence if they fail to vote for ZANU PF.
Gutu ward 41
At Mutema polling station, ZANU PF members Letwin Chipoka and Precious Machinjike are compiling names of people as they vote at Mutema Primary school.
Gutu ward 2
ZANU PF member Andrew Chirozva is compiling names of people as they vote at Chiguhune Primary school polling station.
Mt Darwin ward 15
At Chokuveza polling station, ZANU PF District chairperson, Arlington Makina is threatening people with violence in the event that they fail to vote for ZANU PF.
Source: Heal Zimbabwe
