Observers uncover 8 500 ghost voters

By Vusumuzi Sifile, Bertha Shoko and Ndamu Sandu

AS Zimbabweans turned out to vote yesterday, one foreign observer mission reported unearthing thousands of ghost voters, particularly north of Harare.

Queues formed early, but many voters complained of not being allowed to cast their ballots.
Across the country, there were reports of voters not being allowed to cast ballots — either because their names were not on the voters’ roll or because they were trying to vote in the wrong ward.

There was a heavy turnout in the capital in the morning, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), was expected to be asked to explain the discovery of nearly 8 500 voters in Ward 42.

They were reportedly registered under one block in Harare North constituency.The Standard was told yesterday the observer mission had written to the ZEC about what they saw as a major anomaly.

Out of 24 678 (correct) registered voters, more than 8 450 have been registered under block 081083.

The block is situated at Hatcliffe, but it is a deserted area with a few wooden sheds scattered around.

There is no evidence of any voters living on the site.
The Standard understands the observer mission had discovered discrepancies after consulting the voters’ roll. For example, although the area is empty, voters were registered with addresses of unoccupied stands.

In addition, the mission is reported to have discovered that a number of the stands in the area were supposedly inhabited by “large family numbers” of voters, who according to their names are not related.

The Standard understands that Stand 10108, which measures 300m2 is listed as having more than 70 voters’ names, supposedly living there. The corresponding address does not appear detailed enough to allow for verification.

The observer mission, The Standard understands, has written to ZEC over the apparent irregularity in Harare North and the fact that the Commission “printed 50% more ballot papers than the number of registered voters”.

It was not immediately possible, at the time of going to print last night, to contact the ZEC to confirm receipt of the complaint from the observer mission.But that was not the only complaint to surface yesterday as polling got under way. Police officers reported a Sergeant Nyakabau from Mabvuku traffic section apparently went missing after he had gone to cast his ballot at Century House East, where the ZEC is housed.

Police officers said Nyakabau had been taken away in a police vehicle.Police sources said officers had initially been asked to cast their postal ballot on Thursday evening in front of their superiors.

Those who had objected were then asked to go and hand these at the ZEC head offices. They identified a superintendent, who they said was stationed on the seventh floor of the ZEC offices. They believed his brief was to intercept people who had voted “incorrectly” – a reference to anyone not voting for President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.

Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzi said yesterday the report was misleading.“Why would he (the policeman) go to ZEC to cast his ballot; is there a polling station?” said Bvudzijena.
MDC secretary general Tendai Biti said some polling station ran out of ballot papers and ballot boxes went missing, raising suspicion of rigging.Biti said ballot papers were in short supply in Kariba, Makoni North and Rusape while a book of ballot papers could not be accounted for.“We have no doubt that this is deliberate to enable them to steal this election in favour of Mugabe,” Biti said.

Zesn said Zanu PF candidate for Emakhandeni-Entumbani’s home was bombed in early yesterday.

In another incident, there was an altercation between MDC (Mutambara) supporters and Zanu PF activists in which a passerby was killed.Zesn chairperson Noel Kututwa said the man was hit by an MDC vehicle allegedly shot at by Zanu PF supporters. There were intimidation incidents in Chegutu West constituency at Lowood Farm polling station where a Zanu PF polling agent was allegedly advising people on how to vote.

Similar reports were recorded in Mashonaland East. At one constituency 221 people waiting to vote in Kafura School 141 people, at Chitsungo 120 were waiting to vote, while at Sova in Pfungwe there were 92 people waiting to vote around mid-morning.

Officials said the people in the area spent the mornings on gold panning activities and were expected to come and vote later in the day.

At Nyanzou in Pfungwe, near Mazowe River Bridge there was a police officer assisting voters was openly instructing them to vote for Zanu PF. A team from the American Embassy also confirmed the report.

All the polling stations refused to give the number of people who had cast their votes. It is as if they had uniform instructions. They were refusing to talk.

However, at Morris School in Maramba constituency, the polling officer said 322 people had voted by 9.26AM. But at Murehwa centre people were being turned away. In Bulawayo, many people failed to vote after a number of polling stations opened late amid widespread confusion arising from the use of four separate ballot papers.In the poor suburb of Makokoba where a there is three-way tight contest involving MDC-Tsvangirai vice president, Thokozani Khuphe, Welshman Ncube who is the secretary of the rival MDC and Zimbabwe Defence Industries boss, Tshinga Dube of Zanu PF, scores of people waited patiently to cast their votes.

Bulawayo Agenda, a civic organisation with poll observers throughout Matabeleland, reported that at some polling stations the process was so slow agitated voters left before casting their ballots.

An average of 100 people had cast their votes in each of the polling stations across the city by 10 AM, polling officers said. The polling station at the City Hall was the busiest with long queues throughout the day.

In Victoria Falls, Bulawayo Agenda reported a few polling stations had run out of ballot papers by 10AM.

In Makoni South people “swarmed” the polling stations but ballot papers ran out in two wards. Pishai Muchauraya, the MDC candidate said this was a “dirty tactic” to deny people their democratic right.

In Masvingo, urban voters turned up in their hundreds but scores were turned away after the polling officers told them their names were not in the roll.Most were aged between 18 and 35.
At Runyararo polling station in Masvingo urban The Standard came across about 10 youths protesting against the injustice but was escorted out by the police. All claimed to have registered in January.

In rural Gutu district, there was a huge turnout as early as 3 am. But there were disturbances at polling stations after MDC polling agents were chased away resulting in a temporary halt of voting.

MDC candidate for Gutu Central, Oliver Chirume said his agents were chased away at Mushayavanhu and Munyaradzi stations by the polling officers but were later allowed back. There was low turnout in Gutu South; at Tandavare primary school, only 270 had cast their vote by 4pm.

At Zimbizi and Gumindoga primary school there were reportedly incidents of intimidation as Zanu PF youths wearing party regalia threatened to beat up people.Results of yesterday’s elections are expected today.