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Initial poll results
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
September 01, 2003

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change Party (MDC) regained its Harare Central seat after its candidate Murisi Zwizwai beat his closest rival William Nhara of ZANU PF by 1 403 votes. In the parliamentary by-election held over the weekend, Murisi polled 2 707 and Nhara got 1 304. Also vying for the same seat was Rumbidzai Hwicho of the National Alliance of Good Governance (NAGG) and Mathias Guchutu of the Multi-racial Open Party Christian Democrats. They polled 10 and 15 votes respectively. Only 4 036 out of a possible 36 690 or 11% of the registered voters cast their vote. This is clear voter apathy and ZESN once again calls upon the electorate to continue exercising their right to elect their leaders. Results for the Makonde parliamentary by-election were still to come from our observers at the time this statement was done.

In the urban council elections results received by ZESN so far, ZANU PF took all the contested seats in Kadoma, Marondera, Shurugwi and Karoi while MDC took all the 29 contested Bulawayo seats. The MDC also won most of the seats in Masvingo, Victoria Falls and Kariba while Zvishavane was shared equally between MDC and ZANU PF. Gwanda, Kariba and Victoria Falls mayoral seats went to the MDC and ZANU PF took Kwekwe. At the time of writing this statement, results for the Gweru, Mutare and Redcliff mayoral elections were not yet out.

ZESN notes with concern that these results come from elections that were characterised by voter apathy, violence, intimidation and obstruction of voters, vote-buying, as well as lack of information on the electoral process from the electoral authorities, especially the location of polling stations and the issue of the use of drivers' licences as voter identification particulars.

Realising that confusion on the conduct of elections continues to persist in Zimbabwe, ZESN re-emphasises the need for a single independent electoral body mandated with managing elections in the country. Because voter apathy is detrimental to democracy, we encourage voters to continue participating in all elections. We also call upon the electoral authorities to provide accurate and adequate information on electoral processes timeously and to allow civic society to carry out voter education freely.

Dr. R. Matchaba-Hove
ZESN National Chairperson

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