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MDC update on election developments
Movement for Democratic Change
July 31, 2013

The MDC commends the people of Zimbabwe for coming out in their millions to vote for real change but however, the party has unearthed serious vote rigging shenanigans by Zanu-PF and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) across the country.

In Gwanda Central, Matabeleland South, Maramba Pfungwe, ballot papers ran out and voters were being told to wait for the ballot papers.

A polling station not on the list provided by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was created during the course of the day and youths who are suspected to be members of the Zanu-PF youth militia were observed voting at the station. The regional observers were notified about this development.

In Hatfield, Harare, the MDC parliamentary candidate, Dr. Tapiwa Mashakada, discovered that scores of unregistered voters had cast their votes in the constituency. At least 22 of those ghost voters were arrested and are currently being held at Hatfield Police Station. The police have since confiscated unused fake ballot papers from Acie Lumumba, the Zanu-PF parliamentary candidate although he has not been arrested.

In another worrying scenario, in Mbare, Harare, voters who are vendors at Mbare Musika market stalls were asked to take pictures of the last three digits of their serial numbers while other voters across the country who had not registered to vote or had not been allowed to vote found themselves on the voter’s roll.

In Rushinga, Mashonaland Central all the MDC polling agents were chased away by ZEC officials and the police. In Muzarabani North, Guruve North, Mutoko North, Bikita, Zaka Central, villagers, civil servants including g teachers, headmasters and nurses were assisted to vote by known Zanu-PF agents.

In Headlands, Manicaland, Chipo Mbofana, a polling agent at Mt Carmel in Ward 32 was arrested for unknown reasons while Lucky Banda, an MDC driver was arrested at Girls College in Bulawayo where he was dropping off polling agents from a party vehicle and in Hurungwe Central, Mashonaland West, Charles Kapara and Bill Musa MDC polling agents were attacked by Zanu-PF activists at Ethorpe polling station. The two then made a report RRB Number 1680878 at Karoi Police Station. Million Luke, a member of the JOMIC team and an MDC activist was arrested at Fixstone primary school in Ward 25, Chegutu West.

In Mbizo, Midlands province, six voters who were formerly termed as “aliens” but had managed to register in June were denied the right to vote while disabled voters were forced to be assisted to vote by known Zanu-PF members.

However, despite these Zanu-PF and ZEC shenanigans, the MDC is confident that the will of the people will prevail as they have defied the Zanu-PF rigging system and managed come out in their huge numbers to vote for real change and transformation.

As a party, the MDC is encouraged by the high turnout of the people of Zimbabwe who have decided to vote for a new Zimbabwe. We remain confident that in spite of all these challenges, the people of Zimbabwe will deliver real change and transformation.

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