LIVEBLOG #ZIMBABWEDECIDES23 

Source: LIVEBLOG #ZIMBABWEDECIDES23 -Newsday Zimbabwe

Voters queue to cast their votes at Waterfalls Primary School on Wednesday morning

Zimbabweans trooped to vote this morning in the second post Robert Mugabe election which they hope will end over two decades of persistent economic chaos.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seeking re-election for what he said would be his final term but his Zanu PF party is up against its main rival, the Citizens Coalition for Change led by Nelson Chamisa, who is seen as his main challenger for the top office.

There are eight other candidates for the Presidency.

Mnangagwa’s first term after succeeding long time ruler, the late Robert Mugabe following a coup in November 2017, was characterised by runaway inflation, currency shortages while unemployment remains high.

He brought back the domestic currency in 2019 but it has so far lost over 99% of its value, making the lives for many Zimbabweans a misery.Polls opened at 7AM, with long queues reported at some polling stations. Our team of reporters will be bringing you live reports from around the country.

 

 

https://twitter.com/NewsDayZimbabwe/status/1694249680459149723

Our reporter Jairos Saunyama reports from Marondera that the names of three Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidates aspiring for local government seats in Marondera are missing on ballot papers and Zimbabwe Electoral Commision (ZEC) officials have suspended the voting process as a result.

The affected candidates are Bornface Tagwireyi (Ward3), Dominic Matangira (Ward 7) and Thomson Magaluwa (Ward 10).

ZEC has yet to comment on the issue.

At many polling stations, voters are either still waiting for ballot papers or have had to place complaints about their missing (local authority) candidates at polling stations in Harare, Bulawayo and Chitungwiza.

CCC councilors in Harare West say they are going to the ZEC command centre to complain about the delay to bring ballot papers to polling stations. They are accusing Zec of trying to disadvantage the urban vote.

Harare – “Voting delayed in some parts of Glenview as local authority ballots are yet to be delivered.”

Chitungwiza – “Voting is yet to start in most parts of Chitungwiza South as some polling stations are yet to receive local authority ballot papers”

Bulawayo – “At polling stations such as Njube Hall, Lutheran and Mtshede Primary School under Entumbane Njube constituency voting has not started, ballots are yet to be supplied. Also, some of the voters are still to locate where their names are in the voters roll.”

Chitungwiza – “Chitungwiza North CCC candidate Godfrey Sithole says he is not happy that polling has not started yet. Sithole is in the race to reclaim Chitungwiza North together with CCC ‘double candidate’ candidate  Nyashadzaishe Chitoro and Zanu PF’s Spencer Machangara.”

Mutare – “Confusion has marred elections in Dangamvura constituency after a mix up of ballot papers with those in Chipinge. Voters in ward 7 at Sheni Primary and Rujeko primary school polling stations are yet to cast their votes. Dangamvura Beit Hall is also affected.”

Harare – “A few people at Alfred Beit primary school came to vote but there were no ballot papers. Voters at the polling station say some have returned have home due to the delays”

Harare – “Voters are still coming in their numbers at Waterfalls Primary School despite the fact that Zec is still waiting for ballot papers to be delivered.”

Opposition members are raising concerns about Zanu PF members and its affiliate, Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) setting up “registration desks” close to polling stations in Harare and Bulawayo.

Bulawayo – “In Nketa constituency, Ward 26, Zanu PF youths have mounted two separate desks  about 500 meters away from the polling station where they are luring voters to register their names before or after voting at their desk called Zanu PF exit poll survey.  They said they have been asked to keep the register by their leadership”

“There is a suspicious (FAZ) desk outside Haig Park Primary School, reports @sharon_buwe

“FAZ is deployed at many polling stations, with Zanu PF campaign material in open disregard of electoral laws. In some instances citizens are trying to eject them.”

In Masvingo, a car is  stationed at house number 7411 Chiteza Street, Rujeko B less than 300 metres from the Rujeko Ward 7 Masvingo Urban polling station. The occupants also have a  Zec voters roll and are ticking names of those that have voted.