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Voting started well in most rural constituencies perceived to be the ruling party ZANU (PF) strongholds but electorates in the capital city Harare were stranded after the delayed distribution of ballot papers.
Speaking to this publication at 1415 hours in Harare at the Budiriro 1 high School Polling Station, a voter who can not be named for security reasons revealed that he arrived in the queue to cast his ballot from as early as 0300 hours but Lady Luck had not smiled in his face since ballot papers had not been availed since the time slated for the opening of ballot papers.
Reports filtering through are that ballot papers are not yet available in 22 wards in Harare due to technical challenges.
In a public appearance while addressing journalists, Utoile Silaigwana, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s Chief Elections Officer, said polling stations that delayed receiving the ballot papers would be given corresponding hours of delay as additional time to cover up for the delay.
Silaigwana had not responded to questions as to whether the polling stations would close during the 7 p.m. closing time and reopen tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. for the voters who would have been delayed or they would extend the time from 7 p.m. upwards.
A number of people who spoke to this publication asked why Fidelity Printers, where the ballot papers were being printed early morning, had waited for the last minute to avail them, yet they should have anticipated that there could be a problem with the printing plates.
“This whole drama casts aspersions on the credibility of the elections. ZEC and ZANU (PF) are aware that Harare is a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) stronghold and they don’t want Nelson Chamisa’s victory. Ever since independence, we have not witnessed such shambolic elections,” the frustrated voter said.