News / National
'Yes vote' turnout impressive, says Biti
16 Mar 2013 at 13:02hrs | Views
Tendai Biti, the MDC-T secretary general has said the party is impressed by the on-going voting process in the referendum for a new Constitution currently underway across the country.
However, Biti was quick to raise concern on the whereabouts of Samson Magumura, the MDC-T district secretary for Headlands in Manicaland province who was abducted by four armed people at his home early this morning.
Addressing the party's first press conference on the referendum at the party headquarters, Harvest House today, the MDC-T Secretary General, Tendai Biti said Magumura was abducted by three armed men and a woman driving in a white truck with registration numbers - ABG 7038.
The abductors took away a mobile phone belonging to Magumura 's wife.
The police have been informed about the kidnapping but are not being helpful although they informed the MDC-T Manicaland provincial information and publicity secretary, Pishai Muchauraya that they knew Magumura 's abductors.
"The disappearance of Magumura is unacceptable," said Biti.
He said the MDC-T was impressed by the turn out of people voting in the referendum on the new Constitution.
"We note the slow start in some provinces but areas such as Harare, Bulawayo and Manicaland have recorded a high turn out. We are pleased about the long journey for a new Constitution and we are making history. This is the most important thing that has happened to us. We want to thank the people of Zimbabwe for understanding the historical gravity of this event," said Biti.
However, Biti expressed dismay over some cases of violence, intimidation and arrests in some parts of the country.
In Mbare, Hurungwe, Muzvezve, Chakari and Zvimba North, Zanu-PF members are intimidating voters by forcing them to submit their names and addresses after voting.
The party is aware that besides using these intimidatory tactics, some Zanu PF officials are busy campaigning for a no vote, with latest reports coming in from Midlands North province confirming this. The secretary general said this was an indication of the serious chaos that was in Zanu-PF.
Biti raised concerns on the behaviour of police officers who in some areas entering polling stations, which is against the law and of presiding officers who were instructing voters to show them their filled ballot papers.
He said this was intimidatory especially in areas that are politically volatile.
In Kariba, George Masendu, the MDC-T district secretary, Nathan Makwasha, William Zvahera and Vincent Mpofu were arrested last night while putting up posters to encourage people to vote yes.
Yesterday nine MDC-T members were attacked while putting up posters at Nenyere Flats in Mbare. As a party we deplore such violent activities as these are signs of another violent election in July.
However, Biti was quick to raise concern on the whereabouts of Samson Magumura, the MDC-T district secretary for Headlands in Manicaland province who was abducted by four armed people at his home early this morning.
Addressing the party's first press conference on the referendum at the party headquarters, Harvest House today, the MDC-T Secretary General, Tendai Biti said Magumura was abducted by three armed men and a woman driving in a white truck with registration numbers - ABG 7038.
The abductors took away a mobile phone belonging to Magumura 's wife.
The police have been informed about the kidnapping but are not being helpful although they informed the MDC-T Manicaland provincial information and publicity secretary, Pishai Muchauraya that they knew Magumura 's abductors.
"The disappearance of Magumura is unacceptable," said Biti.
He said the MDC-T was impressed by the turn out of people voting in the referendum on the new Constitution.
"We note the slow start in some provinces but areas such as Harare, Bulawayo and Manicaland have recorded a high turn out. We are pleased about the long journey for a new Constitution and we are making history. This is the most important thing that has happened to us. We want to thank the people of Zimbabwe for understanding the historical gravity of this event," said Biti.
However, Biti expressed dismay over some cases of violence, intimidation and arrests in some parts of the country.
In Mbare, Hurungwe, Muzvezve, Chakari and Zvimba North, Zanu-PF members are intimidating voters by forcing them to submit their names and addresses after voting.
The party is aware that besides using these intimidatory tactics, some Zanu PF officials are busy campaigning for a no vote, with latest reports coming in from Midlands North province confirming this. The secretary general said this was an indication of the serious chaos that was in Zanu-PF.
Biti raised concerns on the behaviour of police officers who in some areas entering polling stations, which is against the law and of presiding officers who were instructing voters to show them their filled ballot papers.
He said this was intimidatory especially in areas that are politically volatile.
In Kariba, George Masendu, the MDC-T district secretary, Nathan Makwasha, William Zvahera and Vincent Mpofu were arrested last night while putting up posters to encourage people to vote yes.
Yesterday nine MDC-T members were attacked while putting up posters at Nenyere Flats in Mbare. As a party we deplore such violent activities as these are signs of another violent election in July.
Source - MDC-T
