Temba Dube
Remember Deketeke Herald Correspondent
A TOTAL of 15 892 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots in today’s by-elections for Bulawayo Ward 1 and Hwange Ward 18, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said.
By-elections that had been scheduled for Victoria Falls Ward 3 will not be held after Zanu PF candidate Nyoni Lungile was declared duly elected unopposed following the closure of nominations.
The two by-elections will be conducted at 27 polling stations, with 23 in Bulawayo Ward 1 and four in Hwange Ward 18.
ZEC Chief Elections Officer Dr Simbarashe Tongayi yesteday said the Commission had completed preparations and deployed the necessary human and material resources for the elections.
“All material and human resources are in place,” Dr Tongayi said.
He said ward elections officers, deputy ward elections officers, presiding officers and polling officers had been recruited and trained to conduct the elections.
Polling will run from 7AM to 7PM, giving registered voters 12 hours to cast their ballots.
Dr Tongayi said the Commission had printed 16 650 ballot papers, representing a 4,76 percent contingency over the number of registered voters.
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has identified a total of 27 polling stations for tomorrow’s by-elections,” he said.
In Bulawayo Ward 1, three candidates are contesting the election: Sibanda Mduduzi of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), independent candidate Sithole Shepherd and Zanu PF candidate
Tsikira Mathias Tichaona.
In Hwange Ward 18, independent candidates Kafunga Thadeos and Ndlovu Raymond are contesting against Zanu-PF candidate Mkandla Nkosilathi.
Ward 1 seat became vacant following the operation of the law after a guilty verdict by an Independent Tribunal, while the Ward 18 seat became vacant following the death of the incumbent councillor.
Dr Tongayi said the ballot papers had been printed by the Printing and Minting Company of Zimbabwe in terms of Section 52A (2) of the Electoral Act.
The commission has established ward collation centres at Gifford High School in Bulawayo and Detema Secondary School in Hwange.
Dr Tongayi said the commission had also made preparations for the accreditation of observers and members of the media.
He said local observers and Zimbabwean media practitioners accredited with the Zimbabwe Media Commission would pay US$10, or the ZiG equivalent at the prevailing bank rate.
The commission has budgeted ZiG14 million for the two by-elections.
Dr Tongayi urged candidates, political parties and their supporters to maintain peace and abide by the electoral code of conduct.
“The Commission encourages candidates, political parties and supporters to observe the code of conduct and maintain peace before, during and after the by-elections,” he said.
The polling stations list was first published on September 10, with the final list expected to be published today in terms of Section 51(2) of the Electoral Act.
