Polling day was enticing at dawn as many citizens woke up early in most parts of the country to cast
their ballots, however the majority of polling stations in opposition strongholds of Bulawayo and
Harare experienced shortage of and delay in arrival of ballot papers. Polling stations in Chitungwiza,
Kuwadzana, Epworth, Luveve, Emakhandeni and Gwabalanda had not received ballot papers for
local authority candidates as at 1400 hrs. This resulted in chaotic situations where citizens voted well
into the night while some left polling stations without voting. Many voters left without casting their
ballots as a result of this.69% of the registered voters, according to ZEC, cast ballots. Citizens
experienced voting delays resulting in apathy as some frustrated citizens opted to return home
without exercising their constitutional political right to vote in all elections and referendums to which
the Constitution or any other law applies, and to do so in secret (Section 67 {3}{a}.
In Bulawayo ward 1 at Eveline High polling station some citizens did not vote. A victim narrated that
they found their name crossed through as someone had voted on their behalf. This was clearly a
violation of their political rights. Other citizens across the country also failed to vote owing to the
fact that they were further transferred to polling stations far away from their places of residence,
requiring them to incur extra expenses to vote. Due to a lack of ballots amongst other challenges,
the voting day was extended from August 23 to August 24 in 202 by President Mnangagwa through
a proclamation in line with the Electoral Act.
Disinformation
In the early hours of morning on polling day in some parts of the country, people woke up to find
fliers emblazoning CCC President Nelson Chamisa’s picture with a false message discouraging them
not to vote. The fliers had a message which read, "Do not vote!!!, Election has been stolen, Stay at
Home!”. Such fliers were found strewn on the streets of Bulawayo, Gweru, Harare, and Masvingo.
The fliers were also littered near polling stations to deceive people not to vote. Verified facts opine
that the fliers were supposedly printed and distributed by alleged members of FAZ to deceive urban
voters.
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