30 Jul 2018

Zimbabweans began voting yesterday to elect the president and members of national assembly as well as councillors.

Mahalapye East MP Botlogile Tshireletso who is part of the Southern African Development Community-Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) observer mission said in an interview that they were keeping a close watch on the voting process.

She said at Chinoi, Mashonaland West Province, voting started well .

“At 6.30am verification process at polling booths had already started with political party agents and election administrators checking voting material,” she said.

She however noted that the voting materials verification process had started on July 27 in their presence on polling day, administrators were only cross checking to ensure everything was in place. 

Ms Tshireletso said there was hope for a peaceful election, given the prevailing calm atmosphere. 

Even before polling stations opened, Ms Tshireletso said many Zimbabweans waited  in long queues, determined to cast their vote. 

She said polling stations opened at 7am and were to close at 7pm.

Ms Tshireletso said each polling station had three ballot booths for the country’s president, national assembly and council with each electorate given at least four minutes to cast their vote.

She said  those registered  used their national identity cards or passports to cast their vote and that those who had lost their documents were assisted through satellite offices set up around the country.

Ms Tshireletso said she observed that election officers ushered voters into booths and that there were statisticians at every polling for data collection.

In another interview, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr Unity Dow said Botswana was pleased that her neighbour, friends and fellow regional citizens were participating in an election exercise which was fundamental to peace, justice and sustainable economic growth.

“Free fair and credible elections are not just for Zimbabweans, but they are good for neighbours and the world. The world is interconnected, consequently, a breach of peace in any corner of the world is breach of peace everywhere,” she said.

According to Zimbabwean Electoral Commission, more than five million Zimbabweans have registered to take part in the landmark elections with a total of 10 985 polling stations set up across the country.

A total of 23 candidates, 19 men and four women, are running for the presidency - all for the first time. The figure marks the highest number of presidential hopefuls in the country of 16 million people.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling ZANU-PF and Nelson Chamisa of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change are seen as the top two contenders in the presidential race. 

Mr Mnangagwa succeeded 94-year-old Robert Mugabe last November, bringing to an end his 37-year rule. ENDS