via Bulawayo voters stay away – The Zimbabwean 10 June 2015
Voters in Bulawayo appear to have heeded to MDC-T calls for the boycotting of the five by-elections which kick started in the city this morning.
Voting was marred by low voter turnout in several polling stations visited by The Zimbabwean. Some of the polling stations which recorded low voter turnout at the start of the polling process include the Cowdry Park TM mobile polling station in Luveve constituency and Stanley Square polling station in Makokoba constituency.
“ When I arrived here around 6 am, I was expecting to see long queues but to my surprise only a few people were lining” said a local resident, Brown Mpofu.
The Zimbabwean news crew also visited Fusini Square polling station in Makokoba where the turnout was also very low as compared to the 2013 elections.
Zapu deputy national spokesperson, Patrick Ndlovu also confirmed the low turnout in an interview.
“All the places which I have visited so far I have witnessed very short queues of less than six people .At some polling stations like Old Pumula hall and Gondlwayo primary school there were no queues at all. Maybe the situation might improve as the day progresses” said Ndlovu.
Zanu (PF) Zapu and independent candidates are battling it out in the by-elections in the five vacant constituencies in Bulawayo.
The vacant constituencies are Makokoba, Pumula, Luveve, Lobengula/Magwegwe and Mpopoma/ Pelandaba.
The five constituencies were left vacant following the expulsion from parliament of MPs who defected from the MDC-T and joined the MDC Renewal camp.Both the MDC formations have boycotted the by elections citing uneven electoral field .The MDC-T has been urging its members to either spoil their vote or shun the by –elections.
COMMENTS
in Australia voting is compulsory– even if you are out of the country, one must submit a postal vote. Fine of about $250-00 applies.
Strange system here– one fills in your voting card with your choice of candidate from 1 to 5. i.e. I like candidate A, second choice is B and so on . Everyone does this of course and at the end of the day neither candidate A or B wins because candidate C the third favourite garnered enough second and third preferences to beat the favourites.
Then the major parties Liberal and Labor have to negotiate with crazy minor parties to gain control. These minor parties comprise– The Greens(Save the Environment) The Fishing and Hunting party– the Sex party ( Gays and so on) The Motoring party and others I have forgotten. End result too much freedom resulting in a difficult parliament blocking bills all the way. Very little real Government work gets done– but– Thats a free democracy.