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Kuwadzana and Highfield by-elections statements
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
March 31, 2003

Kuwadzana and Highfield by-elections result statement
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deplores the violence that erupted in Highfield after the announcement of the election results. The Movement for Democratic Change’s (MDC) Mr Pearson Mungofa has won the election with 8759 votes beating his rival Mr Joseph Chinotimba of the ruling ZANU PF party who polled 4844 votes.

In Kuwadzana MDC’s Mr Nelson Chamisa won the seat by 12 548 votes against ZANU PF Mr David Mutasa 5002 votes. We welcome the calm reception of the results in this constituency.

We note with concern however, the pre-poll violence, intimidation and visible vote buying that characterised this election and urge Zimbabweans to rise above petty differences and to remain calm and peaceful. As we again look forward to by-elections in Harare Central and Makonde, ZESN urges all involved parties to desist from the practices of violence, vote-buying and intimidation that was witnessed in this, and other elections.

ZESN also encourage Zimbabweans to desist from voter apathy and continue to exercise their constitutional and democratic right to elect their leaders.

ZESN preliminary press statement on the Kuwadzana and Highfield by-elections
Dr Reginald Matchaba Hove, ZESN National Chairperson

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) an umbrella body of 36 civic organisations through its member organisations fielded 34 observers in the just ended Kuwadzana and Highfield by-elections. Out of a total of 110 names that ZESN member organisations submitted to the Electoral Supervisory Commission, only 22 were invited for accreditation and 17 managed to obtain accreditation. These were assisted by another 17 parallel observers who were operating outside the stipulated 100m radius.

The network notes with concern serious anomalies in the conduct of the two days of polling. Firstly, the pre-election period was marred by violence, visible vote buying and the failure by the Registrar General’s office to release the voters’ roll to contesting candidates on time. The actual polling days were characterized by vote buying, violence, abductions of observers and party polling agents, intimidation, denial of access to the polling stations to accredited observers, and a heavy presence of the uniformed forces and ZANU PF youths in the vicinity of the polling stations. We also observed that there were no police officers at some polling stations where they were required. Also of grave concern was the disruption of the voting process by riot police on the second day of polling in Kuwadzana.

Three ZESN observers were beaten up by people who identified themselves as ZANU PF supporters. One was abducted from Kuwadzana 4 Primary Polling Station and taken to a private house where he was beaten up before being driven to, and dumped at Lilfodia Farm along the Old Bulawayo Road. According to medical reports, he suffered soft broken tissues on both feet. The other one was abducted from Kuwadzana 1 Primary Polling Station and taken to Tongogara base in Kuwadzana 6. He was beaten up and managed to escape half naked. The third observer was beaten up at Rusvingo Primary Polling Station. His shirt was torn and cell phone damaged by the attackers. The three lost their national identification particulars to their assailants.

An accredited observer was chased away from Kuwadzana 2 Primary Polling Station by people who claimed to be war veterans while another was ordered out of a polling station by a police officer who claimed that observers were not allowed to be at polling stations for the whole day. The presiding officer agreed with the police officer. ZESN is worried by this act that is in contradiction to Section 15C(1)(a) of Statutory Instrument 41B of 2002 Electoral (Amendment) Regulations No. 13, which states "observe" in relation to any election means…observe the conduct of polling at the election.

ZESN also observed a heavy presence of marked ruling party vehicles from several provinces that were transporting supporters around the two constituencies. Some of the vehicles were carrying people chanting ZANU PF songs and sloganeering in some cases inside the stipulated 100m radius. In Kuwadzana the ZANU PF trucks were spotted carrying youths who were distributing beer to people around the constituency especially at beer halls, and urging them to go and vote.

ZESN observed long queues at most polling stations on the first day of polling but few people turned up on the second day. Voting figures made available to ZESN by the constituency registrars indicate that fewer people voted in this election than in the 2000 general elections and last year’s presidential elections. About 30 000 people cast their vote in the two constituencies in the by-elections compared to 41 541 who voted in the 2002 presidential elections in the same constituencies. The low turnout may be attributed to the very tense atmosphere that prevailed in the two constituencies before and during the elections.

On the last day of polling ZESN withdrew its observers from Kuwadzana constituency an hour before the end of polling due to security considerations as the riot police were throwing teargas and bashing people.

ZESN observed that the police were manning a second ink detector outside some polling stations. This is a new development in our electoral system and we are concerned that this might mean the uniformed forces are now taking over the role of the ESC.

We call upon the Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC), the Registrar General’s Office and the law enforcement authorities to observe and enforce the electoral laws and arrest this uncivilized practice that denies citizens their right to freely choose their leaders. We also urge Zimbabwe to abide by the SADC and other international Electoral Norms and Standards which Zimbabwe is party to.

In view of all these anomalies that have become part of our elections, we re-emphasize our call for an independent electoral commission, and the need for electoral laws that encourage citizens to participate freely and peacefully in any elections.

For more information:
Ellen Kandororo, Information Officer
Media and Communication Desk
E-mail: ellenk@zesn.org.zw

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