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Heavy police presence intimidates voters at polling stations - ZESN
07 Mar 2016 at 06:56hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has claimed that heavy police presence during Saturday by-election in Mhondoro-Mubaira could have intimidated voters.
The seat was won by Zanu PF's George Gangarahwe by a massive 13,934 votes.
Rodwell Nyanganya of Freedom Front Party managed 1,056.
A total of 468 votes were rejected.
Said the election watch dog in a statement : "ZESN observers noted a heavy presence of police officers inside and outside of polling stations especially at the Ward collation centres with an average of six police officers per polling station.
"The heavy presence of police officers at polling stations might be intimidating to voters.
"ZESN observer reports show that the turnout was generally low especially for the youth in Mhondoro-Mubaira.
"This trend of low participation in electoral processes is consistent with trends during previous by-elections held in 2014 and 2015,".
The seat was won by Zanu PF's George Gangarahwe by a massive 13,934 votes.
Rodwell Nyanganya of Freedom Front Party managed 1,056.
A total of 468 votes were rejected.
"The heavy presence of police officers at polling stations might be intimidating to voters.
"ZESN observer reports show that the turnout was generally low especially for the youth in Mhondoro-Mubaira.
"This trend of low participation in electoral processes is consistent with trends during previous by-elections held in 2014 and 2015,".
Source - Byo24News
