Police officers camped inside voting rooms - ZENS

Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has deployed 45 static and mobile observers for  Mt Darwin West and Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe  by elections saying voting is progressing 'smoothly' but said scores of  police officers are stationed  inside voting room.

The organisation said in a statement that based on reports from observers each polling station has an average of 8 polling officials. ZESN observers have reported that there are few critical incidents and that voting is going on peacefully.

"As of midday, ZESN observer reports show that the opening of polling in the Mt Darwin West and Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe by-elections proceeded smoothly with most polling stations opening on time and having adequate personnel and voting materials.

"Of concern is the fact that, at all polling stations where ZESN is observing, there are police officers inside despite provisions in the law which state that they must be outside the polling station. Section 19 of the Electoral Act as read with Schedule 2 of the Electoral Regulations 2005 as amended by Statutory Instrument 32 of 2008 allows only members of the Electoral Commission, electoral officers on duty, political party election agents and accredited observers within the polling station."

It said its observers have reported the use of voter registration slips issued in 2013 as well as in 2015 by voters at polling stations in both constituencies.

"The continued use of voter registration slips is worrisome. It is difficult to authenticate them and gives rise to fears of voters from other areas voting in the by-elections.

"ZESN will continue to observe voting throughout the day and the counting process at the end of the day and the collation of results at ZEC Constituency Centres,"