News / National
Zanu-PF strongholds record more voters
27 Jul 2013 at 05:23hrs | Views
PROVINCES that are traditionally Zanu-PF strongholds, judging by last elections voting patterns, have recorded the highest number of new voters with only Manicaland interrupting the flow from number one and number five.
The ward-based voters' rolls were yesterday dispatched to all the country's provinces except in Harare where they are expected to be distributed today.
Figures released by the Registrar-General of Voters Tobaiwa Mudede yesterday said the total voter population of 6 435 615 shows that Mashonaland Central, that has always been a Zanu-PF stronghold recorded the highest number of the new voters.
Nationally, 500 847 new voters were recorded. Mashonaland Central recorded 89 647 first time voters moving the total provincial voter population to 611 754 from 522 107 who were registered in 2008.
On the other hand, one of the perceived MDC-T safe provinces, Bulawayo, recorded the lowest new voters after only 3 583 registered between 2008 and the close of the voters' roll on 10 July.
Zanu-PF provincial leaderships across the country embarked on massive voter education ahead of the mobile registration that was conducted in two phases.
Manicaland comes second after 75 416 new voters registered leaving the total provincial population at 849, 898 compared to the 774, 482 of 2008.
Other Zanu-PF strongholds Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Midlands are third, fourth and fifth with 71 198, 65 450 and 53 391 first timers respectively having registered.
Mashonaland West has 696 927 registered voters from the 2008 figure of 625 729 while in Mashonaland East 723 573 citizens are registered compared to 658 123 who were registered for the 2008 harmonised elections.
Midlands province has 839 628 from the 786 237 who were registered at the last elections.
Masvingo comes sixth with 43 827 new voters taking the total provincial voter population to 784 796. In the last elections, the province had 740 969 registered voters.
Matabeleland North is eighth with 32 907 having registered with Matabeleland South coming next with 23 542 new voters. The two provinces had 366 271 and 355 480 respectively in 2008 but are now at 399 178 and 379 022.
Bulawayo came last with the provincial voter population's difference at 3 583 from the 2008 figure of 320 772.
According to the total provincial voter population, Manicaland has the highest number of registered voters with Midlands coming second, Harare third and Masvingo fourth. At number five is Mashonaland East while Mashonaland West is sixth and Mashonaland Central is seventh.
Matabeleland North comes eight, Matabeleland South is ninth and Bulawayo is last.
Mr Mudede said the voters' rolls have since been dispatched to all the provinces except in Harare.
"It is my pleasure to announce to the nation that the printing of the voters' roll and the binding itself are now complete and that the voters' rolls have been dispatched to the provinces. Only Harare is to receive tomorrow (today). The reason why Harare is receiving tomorrow is because we started with distant areas as we still have time. This time we made sure that we use our own transport with our own drivers and our own staff with police escort for security. We have received reports that they have arrived at all the provincial centres," said Mr Mudede.
He said he was satisfied with how the process of compiling, printing and binding the voters' roll had gone.
Mr Mudede said officers from his department worked tirelessly to ensure the process would be completed well in advance. This, he said, enabled the department to dispatch the voters' rolls to all the country's provinces for onward transmission to district and wards.
Mr Mudede said they were there to serve everyone despite the negative publicity from the private media and the MDC-T leadership.
"When you are a king's son and you are the ruler, you have jurisdiction over the dead, those who are mentally challenged and those who are normal.
"But when you are vilified, you just take it. When you are serving in such an institution and you are not being vilified then you should be worried. It may mean that you are dead," said Mr Mudede.
He said the department gave voters' rolls to those who requested them.
The ward-based voters' rolls were yesterday dispatched to all the country's provinces except in Harare where they are expected to be distributed today.
Figures released by the Registrar-General of Voters Tobaiwa Mudede yesterday said the total voter population of 6 435 615 shows that Mashonaland Central, that has always been a Zanu-PF stronghold recorded the highest number of the new voters.
Nationally, 500 847 new voters were recorded. Mashonaland Central recorded 89 647 first time voters moving the total provincial voter population to 611 754 from 522 107 who were registered in 2008.
On the other hand, one of the perceived MDC-T safe provinces, Bulawayo, recorded the lowest new voters after only 3 583 registered between 2008 and the close of the voters' roll on 10 July.
Zanu-PF provincial leaderships across the country embarked on massive voter education ahead of the mobile registration that was conducted in two phases.
Manicaland comes second after 75 416 new voters registered leaving the total provincial population at 849, 898 compared to the 774, 482 of 2008.
Other Zanu-PF strongholds Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Midlands are third, fourth and fifth with 71 198, 65 450 and 53 391 first timers respectively having registered.
Mashonaland West has 696 927 registered voters from the 2008 figure of 625 729 while in Mashonaland East 723 573 citizens are registered compared to 658 123 who were registered for the 2008 harmonised elections.
Midlands province has 839 628 from the 786 237 who were registered at the last elections.
Masvingo comes sixth with 43 827 new voters taking the total provincial voter population to 784 796. In the last elections, the province had 740 969 registered voters.
Bulawayo came last with the provincial voter population's difference at 3 583 from the 2008 figure of 320 772.
According to the total provincial voter population, Manicaland has the highest number of registered voters with Midlands coming second, Harare third and Masvingo fourth. At number five is Mashonaland East while Mashonaland West is sixth and Mashonaland Central is seventh.
Matabeleland North comes eight, Matabeleland South is ninth and Bulawayo is last.
Mr Mudede said the voters' rolls have since been dispatched to all the provinces except in Harare.
"It is my pleasure to announce to the nation that the printing of the voters' roll and the binding itself are now complete and that the voters' rolls have been dispatched to the provinces. Only Harare is to receive tomorrow (today). The reason why Harare is receiving tomorrow is because we started with distant areas as we still have time. This time we made sure that we use our own transport with our own drivers and our own staff with police escort for security. We have received reports that they have arrived at all the provincial centres," said Mr Mudede.
He said he was satisfied with how the process of compiling, printing and binding the voters' roll had gone.
Mr Mudede said officers from his department worked tirelessly to ensure the process would be completed well in advance. This, he said, enabled the department to dispatch the voters' rolls to all the country's provinces for onward transmission to district and wards.
Mr Mudede said they were there to serve everyone despite the negative publicity from the private media and the MDC-T leadership.
"When you are a king's son and you are the ruler, you have jurisdiction over the dead, those who are mentally challenged and those who are normal.
"But when you are vilified, you just take it. When you are serving in such an institution and you are not being vilified then you should be worried. It may mean that you are dead," said Mr Mudede.
He said the department gave voters' rolls to those who requested them.
Source - chronicle
