Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Insiza North and George Maponga in Gutu
VOTERS braved the chilly morning weather yesterday to go and cast their votes in the Insiza North by-election, with all 67 polling stations opening at the scheduled 7am and closing at 7pm.
There was general peace and tranquillity throughout the constituency, with voters going in and out of polling stations without any hindrances.
Four candidates are vying for the vacant seat following the death of Cde Farai Taruvinga, who succumbed to cancer.
In an interview soon after the closing of polling, Insiza district elections officer Ms Simangele Vika said they were happy with the voting.
“The procedure went smoothly, I am happy.
“Everything went on well. Our polling stations opened at 7am, and people came to cast their votes and at exactly 7pm, all our polling stations closed,” she said.
“We had a number of people who were turned away because they were not on the voters’ roll for the Insiza North by-elections as at 3 May when our voters’ roll for this by-election closed. The turnout was quite good. People came out to cast their vote and, as we speak, the counting and collation process has started.”
Zanu PF candidate Cde Delani Moyo went to the polls against Mr Thabani Mlotshwa of Zapu, Mr Mbongeni Moyo of the Zimbabwe National Revival Party, as well as an independent, Mr Lesley Dube.
Speaking after casting his vote at Pioneer Primary School, Cde Moyo said victory was certain.
“I woke up in the morning as a very strong and confident man. I knew that the day for the victors had finally come. Before I came to my polling station, I first moved around certain polling stations just to check and what I saw was very impressive,” he said.
“I met jubilant party supporters who were on their way or had just cast their votes. Victory is indeed certain. Zanu PF is a revolutionary giant.”
Cde Moyo said he will continue with projects that were started by both his predecessor, the late Cde Taruvinga, and himself once the election formalities were done.
He said Zimbabweans, those in Insiza North included, were happy with the great works being done by the Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.
In the Gutu East parliamentary by-election, voting ended peacefully yesterday, with voters braving the cold weather to cast their ballots at various polling stations.
Polling started at 7am across all the 56 polling centres in the constitunecy, where turnout was average.
The voting climate was peaceful across the constituency, with no incidents of violence or challenges in the voting process recorded.
Three candidates, Mr Gift Gonese (independent), Cde Zvarevashe Masvingise (ZANU PF) and Mr Zivanai Nzvenga (NCA), were fighting for the sole ticket to represent Gutu East in the National Assembly.
The Sunday Mail visited a number of polling stations and witnessed a smooth voting process.
Ambuya Sorotiya Gumbu of Maguraushe village said she was happy to have voted flawlessly.
“I am happy that I have voted. The process went on very well, and I did not even take time to go through the process because there are no long queues,” she said.
Mr Alfonce Mazuru from Mupindimbi area, who cast his vote at Batanai Primary School, said: “I did not take long to cast my vote because, as you can see, there are no queues, so I am satisfied that I finished the process quickly and now I am going back home for some other chores,” he said.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) constituency elections officer Mr Earnest Rukwidzo said there were no glitches across the constituency.
Vote counting was expected to start soon after the close of polling at 7pm at all centres.
The results were expected to be announced at the ZEC constituency command centre at Alheit Mission High School.
Tinaye Agere