Zimbabwe Election update

Bulawayo Agenda is compiling Election Updates from reports and alerts from its network of contacts located in areas served by its chapters monitoring the 27 June run-off and by-elections. 

MPOPOMA/PELANDABA: There are fears that the turn out for this highly contested by-election has been lower than in March 29. Meanwhile, reports say that the MDC-Mutambara candidate in the Mpopoma/Pelandaba by-election, Dhumani Gwetu, went around distributing fliers that claimed that the MDC Tsvangirai candidate Samuel Khumalo had withdrawn from the contest. This has been interpreted as part of a smear campaign to garner votes for the Zanu PF candidate.

BUBI: Matabeleland North Villagers were today forced to go to vote by Zanu PF militia wearing party regalia. They (the villagers) said that despite this they had spoiled their papers.

QUEENS PARK, BULAWAYO Soldiers in uniform and travelling in an army truck have been giving out compact disks with Mugabe’s speeches in the suburb of Queens Park. Residents interviewed said that they were now living in fear since are in fear.

NKAYI: A ZBC crew arrived at Nkayi Growth Point this afternoon and told people that they should vote and those not doing so would be beaten up. The same crew sent a dispatch to their Pockets Hill studios that appeared in afternoon news bulletins, claiming that there were long and snaking queues in Nkayi, contrary to the reality on the ground. Zanu PF youths were spotted parading at Tohwe Centre, 20 km from Nkayi. It is not known why they are there and there are fears that they might be preparing to exercise retribution on those who did not go to vote. Meanwhile, reports say that a war veteran known only as Ndlovu was yesterday pushed into a fire by MDC activists, 6 km from Nkayi growth point, along the Bulawayo Road. He is said to have lost one of his eyes.

PLUMTREE: People were ordered to register at the Zanu PF base that was established in the border town after voting. On realising that the turnout was low, Zanu PF activists then went about rousing up vendors in the town to go and vote.

In Bulilima and Mangwe districts, people understood the withdrawal of the MDC presidential candidate but were afraid that Zanu PFactivists would later check for the mark and for this reason they went to vote. There are fears that this exercise will begin in the town tomorrow when a door to door operation is rumoured to be undertaken.

SHURUGWI: Very few people turned out to vote in this chrome mining town in the Midlands. Those who voted highlighted that they had been threatened that their fingers would be cut off under an operation called “Chigunwe Chavota Ndechipi?” (Which finger voted?), referring to the red indelible ink that voters have to dip their fingers into.