Elections in Zimbabwe has entered its second day as a result of Multiple challenges surrounding the distribution of voting logistics.
Sources confirm that, the President of the Republic, Emerson Mnangagwa issued a statement yesterday that, areas where voting materials failed to reached there, should be allowed to cast their vote today.
Several areas in the Eastern province of Manicaland began casting their votes today, as a result of the in logistics delivery.
Though, some areas are still casting their voting, the electoral commission disclosed that, it has began the counting of votes at some polling stations, after the closure of voting on Wednesday evening.
In the two biggest cities where there have delays in voting equipment delivery, many voters have left the polling stations out of frustrations that, they are unable to vote.
According to a first time voter by the name Takunda Mangwiro, he came out from his house to join a queue around 5am on Wednesday morning, and couldn’t vote, but he casted his vote this morning.
“I was so excited when I came to vote yesterday morning only to find that there were no papers. I waited again till midnight only for voting to be postponed to this morning. I finally voted around 10 am and I feel good. I hope my vote makes a difference to the next five years,” he said.
Takunda Mangwiro.
Reports suggest that, though, there has been delays in voting, the atmosphere in the country remained safe as at yesterday.
According to the vice Presidential candidates of the Citizen’s Coalition for Change, Tendai Biti, what transpired yesterday is as a result of a “shambolic” electoral process, that they have been talking about.
“This was already a fatally flawed election, it is now graduating into a farce.”
Tendai Biti, Vice Presidential Candidate for CCC.
Additionally, the electoral commission claimed that, it is waiting for the go ahead to announce gathered results from some polling areas, but the spokesperson for the Citizen’s Coalition for Change party, Fadzayi Mahere disclosed that, the party is opposed to the release of results from some voting centre in the capital.
According to Mahere, all results from a particular polling areas must be released together to avoid any suspicions.
“We just want the number that was counted to be the number that was read out. We don’t want them to stuff their postal ballot here, we don’t want them to tinker with the numbers, we don’t want them to abuse our polling agents, we just want a free and fair result.”
Fadzayi Mahere, Spokesperson for Citizen’s Coalition for Change Party.
According to a woman who casted her vote, she wished the ballots have been countered and reflected the candidate she voted for.
“I want the election results without any delay because I hope the leaders I voted for will do something for my community. The Councillor and the President are the most important to me because they will decide on things such as water, sanitation, and money.”
A Voter.
Human Right Groups Raise Concerns
In the run-up to the elections, Human Right Watch and Amnesty International alleged that, the ruling administration seeks to suppress public opinions.
They claimed that, several media houses and international press, were denied accreditation to cover the elections.
The right groups revealed that, the Zimbabwean police, yesterday, raided the offices of two local election observers, seized their gadgets and detained 37 staffs conducting election monitoring for both groups.
According to the attorney for the groups, Roselyn Hanzi Esq, negotiations for the release of the arrested workers are still ongoing.
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