The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) on Saturday claimed that some teachers who had been recruited by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) as polling officials for the by-election in Gokwe-Kabuyuni were chased away from their polling stations on Friday night.
Posting on Twitter this Saturday, ARTUZ said the fired polling agents claimed were accused of supporting CCC leader Nelson Chamisa. ARUZ said:
Some teachers in Gokwe who were recruited and trained as polling officials were chased away from their polling stations last night.
The teachers claim that they are accused of supporting Nelson Chamisa and his party CCC.
These teachers do not hold posts in the party and have never campaigned for them.
However, ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana dismissed the report as false saying: “This is false. We have no reports on such an incident”.
Meanwhile, CCC and ZANU PF supporters clashed on Thursday in the constituency where Chamisa had a rally ahead of today’s polls.
Four private media journalists were brutally attacked and left severely injured by suspected ZANU PF members.
The Gokwe-Kabuyuni seat fell vacant following the death of legislator Leonard Chikomba (ZANU PF).
Chikomba died in a road accident on 28 May 2022 near Chitekete Business Centre.
CCC was represented by Costin Muguti and ZANU PF by Spencer Tshuma in the by-election held on 27 August 2022.
More: NewZimbabwe.com