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Low voter turnout blights first day of polling
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
August 30, 2003

Voting started on a low note in this weekend's parliamentary by-elections and urban council elections with a generally peaceful environment prevailing. Isolated incidents of violence were however recorded in some areas.

In Harare Central and Makonde constituencies, there was a poor voter turnout. Some of the few who turned up to vote in Harare were turned away because their names did not appear on the voters' roll. Others were turned away because they had drivers' licences instead of national identification cards. This is in contrast with the advert by the ESC stating that voters could use their licences. ZESN notes with concern the lack of consistent information on the electoral process that threatens to disenfranchise voters as demonstrated by this anomaly.

ZESN spoke to both ZANU PF and MDC candidates for the Harare Central Constituency who expressed concern at the low voter turnout. William Nhara of ZANU PF alleged that many of his supporters were turned away at Admiral Trait and Tomlison Depot Polling Stations because their names were not appearing on the voters' roll. Nhara claimed that when his "supporters" inspected the roll their names appeared but were no longer present when they went to vote. He also claimed that MDC supporters pulled down 9 000 of his 10 000 campaign posters in Harare.

Murisi Zwizwai of MDC attributed the low turnout to the cash crisis arguing many people had chosen to go to the banks. The sudden reappearance of fuel at petrol stations and the timing of the election was also blamed for the low turnout.

In Mutare the situation was quiet but tense. The ZANU PF candidate for Ward 2, Cecelia Gambe, was spotted campaigning at Sakubva Clinic Polling Station and reminding some voters that she had given them maize. Meanwhile riot police intervened at the station to avert clashes between MDC and ZANU PF supporters.

ZESN notes with concern the attitude of some Presiding Officers towards its accredited observers. At the opening of polling, many ZESN observers were denied entry into the polling stations because the Presiding Officers wanted to seek clearance from the ESC national command centre. There was confusion over the presence of the observers as Presiding Officers at some polling stations claimed they were not on the list of observers. In Kadoma, Mutare, Masvingo and Kwekwe several ZESN observers were denied access to polling stations. However, ZESN is pleased that ESC officials cooperated when the problems were brought to their attention and the affected ZESN observers were allowed into the polling stations. The confusion surrounding the status of observers reaffirms ZESN's call for a single independent electoral body in Zimbabwe.

In Kadoma at Mupamombe School Polling Station suspected ZANU PF supporters were manning the gate screening people before they entered the polling station on the basis of party affiliation and attendance at ZANU PF rallies. No police details were visible at the polling station. In the morning a ZESN supervisor spoke to local ESC official, one Mrs Kusikwenyu who promised to take action but nothing had happened by late afternoon.

In Kariba, Hwange and Victoria Falls polling stations are sparsely located and people were turned away because they went to the wrong stations. This was compounded by the lack of information on the location of the polling stations.

Ms Sarah Helen Chiumbu
ZESN National Vice Chairperson

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