Legitimate Zanu PF supporters fail to vote

The Daily News on Sunday reports that some legitimate Zanu PF supporters in Masvingo and some areas in Bulawayo failed to vote as their names were missing on the party's voters' register, stirring a storm of criticism.

In Gutu, Mwenezi and Bikita, 50 percent of the electorate did not vote because their names were missing on the voter register.

Callisto Gwanedza, one of the candidates for the Masvingo provincial chairperson post, alongside four other contestants, claimed the election went well.

"I am satisfied with the process so far, I have not received any report alarming or disheartening," Gwanedza said yesterday.

Gwanedza was facing competition from Chiredzi North legislator Robert Mukwena, former legislator Ailes Baloyi, Benard Mazarire and Gibson Mashingaidze.

Philip Chiyangwa, a candidate for Mashonaland West chairperson post, said "a few challenges" were witnessed during voting, but he said he was satisfied with the general atmosphere.

"It was fair, I would say, we encountered a few hiccups but not to the extreme, we managed to resolve them.

"Anyway, this is internal democracy it cannot be 100 percent perfect, the popular person will win on the day," Chiyangwa said.

Chiyangwa was squaring off against incumbent chairperson John Mafa, Temba Mliswa, Nimrod Chiminya and Blessed Geza.

Mafa said he was happy with the voting process and had not witnessed "serious problems."

"I am currently in Chegutu and I can say all is okay for now, I have not seen any serious problems to talk about," he said.

In Bulawayo, the Daily News on Sunday understands that there were complaints that some names were missing on the roll.

However, Ignatious Chombo, the Bulawayo provincial election team leader, said  all was well.

"We are almost done now, just waiting to start counting the votes and processing the results. The process went smoothly," Chombo said.

In Bulawayo, incumbent chairperson, Callistus Ndlovu, was being challenged by his deputy, Killian Sibanda, and Douglas Ndlovu.

Jaison Passade, the Mount Pleasant lawmaker, was challenging incumbent chairperson, Amos Midzi.

Passade said generally the process went well although not to total perfection.

"This is an internal process. We have seen people going out to vote peacefully. I am satisfied, although you cannot have an election with 100 percent perfection.

"I can say it was a fair competition and the best candidate will win at the end of the day," Passade said.

The Daily News on Sunday crew toured some of the voting centres in Harare and witnessed calmness as party members cast their vote.

Joel Biggie Matiza, the presiding officer in Epworth, said the elections went well.

"I am satisfied with the process. Voting started at 7am and people are coming to vote. The ballot boxes were here on time and voting is going on smoothly. I am now going to visit the 23 polling stations in this constituency," he said.

Voting was said to have gone smoothly in Mashonaland East province where the current chairperson, Ray Kaukonde battled it out against war veteran Philemon Mutongi and Samuel Maisiri.

Obert Mpofu, the election provincial coordinator for Mashonaland East province, said all was well and the process of vote counting was due start to last night.

"We are about to start counting the votes, I did not hear any reports of challenges to talk about," Mpofu said.

In Matabeleland North and South, voting was said to have gone well.

Incumbent Matabeleland North chair, Richard Moyo was challenged by Reeds Dube while in Matabeleland South, sitting chairperson, Andrew Langa, faced competition from Lloyd Siyoka and Phumuza Ndlovu.

Didymus Mutasa, Zanu PF secretary for administration said results in all the provinces are expected today as voting ended at 7pm last night for counting to commence.

"We expect results to be out anytime soon because counting is starting after 7pm," Mutasa said last night.

The polls held a fortnight ago in the other three provinces were marred with controversy, but the Politburo, Zanu PF's top decision making body, endorsed the outcome.