75pc voter turnout in Mash West

Walter Namukondiwa and Fortunate Gora
At least 507 594 registered voters in Mashonaland West Province cast their ballots in the harmonised election on Monday signifying a 75 percent participation in the polls. The figures were released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) provincial command centre, which by end of day yesterday was yet to process three of the 22 National Assembly seats results.

The figures were expected to be relayed collectively to the national counting centre.
There are 655 133 registered voters in the province.

Of those who voted, 26 081 were assisted to vote owing to illiteracy, disability and old age among others while 11 504 were turned away for not appearing on the voters’ roll or not having proper identification.

ZEC provincial elections manager Mr Austin Ndlovu said calculation of National Assembly votes to determine allocation of proportional representation of sits in the National Assembly, Women’s Quarter and Provincial Council was also on.

“By close of poll yesterday (Monday), a total of 507 594 people had voted which translates into 75 percent of the total number of people registered in Mashonaland West province,” he said.

“If you look at the figures you would realise that quite a number of people turned out to vote in Mashonaland West province which is quite a significant number and very pleasing figure,” he said.

“By late afternoon results from 19 out of 22 constituencies had been finalised leaving three constituencies including Kariba, Muzvezve and Mhondoro-Ngezi owing to communication challenges.

In Chinhoyi, MDC-Alliance supporters yesterday afternoon turned to the streets claiming victory in Kadoma and Chinhoyi basing on outcome at local polling stations.

Meanwhile, police in Mashonaland West Province have applauded people in the province for being in the period leading to the voting day.

In an interview yesterday, Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabweazara said all the people across the province exercised their constitutional right to vote in a very peaceful manner.