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Violence mars end of Zengeza parliamentary by-election
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
March 28, 2004

One person was shot dead and two others injured at Takunda Primary (Zengeza 8) School as violence resurfaced on the last day of voting in the two-day Zengeza parliamentary by-election. Onlookers alleged that a government minister fired the shots, which killed one person and injured two. ZESN observers confirmed that they heard the shooting and they also saw people who had gathered for the funeral later on at a nearby house 300 metres away from the polling station. ZESN received confirmation from a local hospital, that one person had been fatally shot and two had been injured. ZESN senior officials also met the ESC Chair and another government minister at the scene, shorty after the Incident had happened. Because of the tense atmosphere, we withdraw our observer at Takunda ' Primary Schoo! polling station. We urge the police to thoroughly investigate the shooting Incident without fear or favour.

In another incident, at 1130hrs, James Makore, the Movement for Democratic Change candidate, fired three warning shots into the air to disperse a rowdy mob of suspected Zanu PF supporters who were descending on him at the open space polling station in Unit H.

ZESN observed that suspected members of Zanu PF were camped outside polling stations where they were taking down names of those who had just voted. At the open space polling station in Unit H, the paper on which the names were being written was confiscated by members of the police force and submitted to the presiding officer Zanu PF supporters maintained that the writing of names was for use within their party structures. However, in our view the presence of women and youth outside the polling stations writing voters' names down constituted intimidation.

At Seke High, ZESN observers witnessed two women being beaten by a group of women as they tried to leave the polling station. The group of women alleged that the two women had voted for the opposition. The latter had to run back into the polling station and only left under police escort.

Of note on the second day of polling, there was an additional ink detector that was being manned by police details outside the polling station, This appeared to be intimidatory.

ZESN however, commends the ESC for the early accreditation of ZESN observers. Credit is a!so due to the electoral officials for the provision of adequate electoral material and functional ink detectors, at all stations and for the professionalism of some of the presiding officers. ZESN also recognises the good work that was done by -some members of the police force at some polling stations during the by-election. We call for this kind of conduct in at all future elections.

Based on observations made during the by-election, ZESN recommends that;

• All parties should refrain from violence during the pre-election, polling and post election period and the law should take its course on all perpetrators of violence.
• In observation of the unusually high number of young voters who sought -assistance during the by-election, there is an urgent need to revisit the criteria of who should be assisted.
• Because of the high number of people turned away for reasons such as lack of proper identification documents or attempting to vote in a wrong constituency, there is need for an extensive on going voter education process.
• The 100 metre radius curtailing political activity is not adequate, as supporters were openly campaigning and intimidating rivals In front of police officers and the work of police officers during the voting process should extend beyond this radius.
• Open space polling stations should be abolished, as they are a threat to the security of electoral officials, polling agents, observers, monitors and voters alike.
• The number of polling stations should be increased while voting should be done in one day and end before sunset.
• There be significant electoral reforms, in particular, the establishment of a fully resourced Independent Electoral Commission to conduct elections.

ZESN strongly condemns the use of violence during elections and urges politicians and their supporters to preach and exercise peace and tolerance. Free and fair elections can only take place in a tolerant political environment in which all political parties contesting the election genuinely commit themselves to renounce the use of violence and corrupt practices during elections.

Dr Matchaba Hove
ZESN Chairperson

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