News / National
All set for Zimbabwe polls
31 Jul 2013 at 04:01hrs | Views
TODAY Zimbabweans across the country are expected to pour to the polling stations dotted around the country to cast their vote to elect a new Government that will lead them for the next five years.
The 6,4 million voters will elect a President, members of the National Assembly and councillors for local authorities.
Five Presidential candidates and a combined 871 National Assembly candidates drawn from different political parties and independents, would battle it out in 210 constituencies in today's harmonised elections.
Vying for the Presidency is President Mugabe, Zanu-PF's First Secretary, Professor Welshman Ncube (MDC), Mr Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and Dr Dumiso Dabengwa of Zapu.
According to the Electoral Law, a winner in the Presidential race must garner 50 percent plus one vote. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and political parties yesterday said they were ready for the polls.
Zec yesterday met the National Multiparty Liaison Committee to discuss among other issues, the voters roll, printing of ballot papers, the special vote, the role of traditional leaders and incidents of violence and intimidation reported by the MDC-T.
"The issue of the voters roll remained heatedly debated and contentious. The Commission explained the other issues to the satisfaction of the meeting which ended on a very cordial note," said Zec in a statement last night.
The Commission urged voters to go early to vote to avoid inconveniences and discouraged people from unofficially announcing the results of the election whether from within or from outside the country. "The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission reiterates that everything is ready for the harmonised elections.
All those who are in possession of their registration slips are encouraged to carry these to the polling stations especially if they registered during the mobile voter registration exercise. The secrecy of every voter's ballot shall be protected and no one will know who each voter will vote for," said Zec.
The polling stations will be opened at 7am and closed at 7pm and voters are required to produce an original identity card or a passport.
Zanu-PF National Secretary for Information and Publicity Rugare Gumbo expressed confidence that Zanu-PF was going to win the elections and urged Zimbabweans to vote peacefully.
"We urge Zimbabweans to vote for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF candidates in the National Assembly and council seats. We urge our people to vote in peace. There should be no violence or any disorderly conduct. We expect the results of the elections to be free and fair and we believe we will win this election," said Gumbo. He commended the police for maintaining a peaceful environment and for conducting its duties in a professional manner.
Gumbo also applauded Zec for handling the electoral process in a satisfactory manner and condemned MDC-T's criticism of the electoral body. "We applaud Zec chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau and her team for handling the electoral process in a professional manner. We also support the African Union (AU) observers' remarks about the peace and tranquility obtaining in the country," he said.
"It is important that as a country we demonstrate that we can handle these issues on our own. We condemn in strongest terms grandstanding by opposition parties particularly Mr Morgan Tsvangirai who is trying to discredit the election process, tarnish the image of Zec and the country.
"Such behaviour is not warranted. Let us go to the elections peacefully and people will decide the leaders they want in the next five years."
MDC spokesperson Mr Nhlanhla Dube urged all registered voters to exercise their democratic right and choose leaders who can take Zimbabwe forward.
"People must go out in their large numbers, just for tomorrow and be patient even if there are long queues. This is a critical election and our people should remain calm and vote peacefully.
"Voting is the only way the electorate can make their voices heard. When all is said and done people must know that development is local, that development can be achieved through equal distribution of resources. Devolution equalises all Zimbabweans," said Mr Dube.
The 6,4 million voters will elect a President, members of the National Assembly and councillors for local authorities.
Five Presidential candidates and a combined 871 National Assembly candidates drawn from different political parties and independents, would battle it out in 210 constituencies in today's harmonised elections.
Vying for the Presidency is President Mugabe, Zanu-PF's First Secretary, Professor Welshman Ncube (MDC), Mr Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and Dr Dumiso Dabengwa of Zapu.
According to the Electoral Law, a winner in the Presidential race must garner 50 percent plus one vote. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and political parties yesterday said they were ready for the polls.
Zec yesterday met the National Multiparty Liaison Committee to discuss among other issues, the voters roll, printing of ballot papers, the special vote, the role of traditional leaders and incidents of violence and intimidation reported by the MDC-T.
"The issue of the voters roll remained heatedly debated and contentious. The Commission explained the other issues to the satisfaction of the meeting which ended on a very cordial note," said Zec in a statement last night.
The Commission urged voters to go early to vote to avoid inconveniences and discouraged people from unofficially announcing the results of the election whether from within or from outside the country. "The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission reiterates that everything is ready for the harmonised elections.
All those who are in possession of their registration slips are encouraged to carry these to the polling stations especially if they registered during the mobile voter registration exercise. The secrecy of every voter's ballot shall be protected and no one will know who each voter will vote for," said Zec.
Zanu-PF National Secretary for Information and Publicity Rugare Gumbo expressed confidence that Zanu-PF was going to win the elections and urged Zimbabweans to vote peacefully.
"We urge Zimbabweans to vote for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF candidates in the National Assembly and council seats. We urge our people to vote in peace. There should be no violence or any disorderly conduct. We expect the results of the elections to be free and fair and we believe we will win this election," said Gumbo. He commended the police for maintaining a peaceful environment and for conducting its duties in a professional manner.
Gumbo also applauded Zec for handling the electoral process in a satisfactory manner and condemned MDC-T's criticism of the electoral body. "We applaud Zec chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau and her team for handling the electoral process in a professional manner. We also support the African Union (AU) observers' remarks about the peace and tranquility obtaining in the country," he said.
"It is important that as a country we demonstrate that we can handle these issues on our own. We condemn in strongest terms grandstanding by opposition parties particularly Mr Morgan Tsvangirai who is trying to discredit the election process, tarnish the image of Zec and the country.
"Such behaviour is not warranted. Let us go to the elections peacefully and people will decide the leaders they want in the next five years."
MDC spokesperson Mr Nhlanhla Dube urged all registered voters to exercise their democratic right and choose leaders who can take Zimbabwe forward.
"People must go out in their large numbers, just for tomorrow and be patient even if there are long queues. This is a critical election and our people should remain calm and vote peacefully.
"Voting is the only way the electorate can make their voices heard. When all is said and done people must know that development is local, that development can be achieved through equal distribution of resources. Devolution equalises all Zimbabweans," said Mr Dube.
Source - chronicle
