War veterans in Mashonaland Central province have demanded a re-run of Tuesday’s provincial elections alleging massive poll rigging.
In a letter addressed to the party’s leadership on Thursday, the war veterans said the outcome of the elections does not reflect the wishes of the people.
ZANU PF is yet to release official results for the provincial elections, with the party’s political commissar Mike Bimha on Thursday reported as saying the results would be announced when they are ready.
However, unconfirmed reports indicate that in Mashonaland Central, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe defeated businessman Tafadzwa Musarara in the provincial chairmanship race.
A letter addressed to ZANU PF national leadership signed off by Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWA) provincial chairman Sam Parirenyatwa, reads:
There is a serious outcry over the way the elections were conducted and the clear evidence of rigging which renders the results not a reflection of the wishes of the people of Mash Central.
This will most likely pose serious challenges for the new administration to effectively unite and run the province most effectively, a challenge the outgoing administration has perennially encountered. More so as we edge towards 2023 with our five million vote vision.
In the letter, the ex-combatants raised several alleged irregularities that characterised the election.
They claimed some polling officers took ballot papers to their homes overnight.
The war veterans also said campaign agents of candidates were allowed to distribute voting material on their own resulting in ballot papers missing especially in Mt Darwin, Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve.
They further claimed that some candidates, especially those in the District Coordinating Committees (DCCs), were allowed to contest in the election in direct violation of the election rules and regulations.
Some candidates’ names were missing at some polling stations suggesting a deliberate strategy to exclude them. Read the letter:
Vote-buying and intimidation were rife at some polling stations especially in Mbire and Guruve and this contributed to eligible voters not being able to cast their votes.
Despite most voters failing to vote, the results sheets reflected a massive turnout which is clear evidence that the election process was seriously manipulated.
There is irrefutable evidence that some ballot papers in Muzarabani and Mbire, were taken home overnight and only brought to the centres the following morning.
These papers were being worked on overnight to ensure a preferred outcome.
More: NewZimbabwe.com