Huge turnout in Mash West

Mash West Bureau
Thousands of people in Mashonaland West Province turned out in their numbers to cast their ballots in the historic elections that are expected to usher in a new Government. The elections yesterday were the first ever after former president Mr Robert Mugabe resigned in the face of impeachment by Parliament, which had already started the proceedings.

There are 55 political parties and 23 presidential candidates that took party in the polls across the country yesterday.
In Mashonaland West, 160 candidates battled it out in the 22 House of Assembly seats in the province.
Voting started as scheduled at all polling stations in the province.

In Chinhoyi, there was a significant number of first time voters, while most aspiring candidates joined the queues to cast their ballots.

Some people started queuing as early as 0530hrs expecting to see long winding queues, but they were disappointed as the process went on smoothly.

Most people interviewed hailed the peaceful environment that characterised polling.
People’s Rainbow Coalition aspiring candidate Engineer Everson Mhangwa, who cast his vote at Chaedza Primary School B polling Station (Ward 8) said the process was smooth.

“There are no complaints concerning the process except for delays at some polling stations, but overall the process is progressing smoothly,” he said.

Presiding officer at Chaedza Primary B polling station (Ward 8) Mrs Sitshengisiwe Macheka said voting started on time and was progressing smoothly.

However, some of the people in the queue complained of slow progress.
Of note was the high turnout of males at polling stations visited in Alaska and Chinhoyi town, with some of those interviewed saying they had been given off days following proclamation of the day as a public holiday.

“We were given off days at work and we feel it is important to exercise our right to vote and choose a leader of our choice and hope for a better future,” said John Mutesa of Cold Stream in Chinhoyi.
He complained at the slow pace that voters were being subjected to.

“We have been here since 6am and we are concerned with the slow progress and no one has been out to explain why it is taking so long,” said a man who was waiting for his turn to cast his ballot.

Makonde aspiring Senator Cde Prisca Mupfumira cast her ballot at Chaedza Hall just after 0900hrs.
She expressed optimism that Zanu-PF and President Mnangagwa would win.

“I have just cast my ballot and the process went on well,” she said. “I am happy that as a constituency and as a country we are voting in peace.
“The queues are not that long.

“This is just an endorsement of Mr Ground-Breaking and Mr Zimbabwe is Open for Business. We are also confident that we are going to reclaim Chinhoyi constituency from the opposition.”

While queues were generally short in most parts of Chinhoyi, they were longer in areas such as Ruvimbo, Rujeko, Katanda and Shackleton.

Outgoing Chinhoyi mayor and aspiring councillor for Ward 14, Mr Test Michaels said the voting process went on smoothly.
“People have been conducting their business peacefully,” he said.

“Aged people are being helped and those who are disabled as well. People came early and were helped in the shortest time possible.”

At least nine candidates are vying for the Chinhoyi Constituency National Assembly seat.
Meanwhile, voting was temporarily stopped at Pfupajena High School, Chegutu West Ward 6 after a number of ballot papers were found to have pictures of the wrong candidates.

New ballots with the correct pictures of the candidates were sent from Harare and voting resumed.
In Kadoma, presidential candidate Engineer Peter Nyanduri cast his vote in Kadoma, Ward 17 at Waverly Primary School at 10am, while Zanu-PFs Kadoma Central National Assembly candidate Cde Fani Phiri cast his vote at Munyaradzi High School in Ward 3.

Cde Phiri said voting was smooth, with the elderly people being assisted to cast their votes without any hassles.
The voting process was peaceful in Magunje and Hurungwe West constituencies.

At the various polling stations visited, people were lined up in queues with the polling process going on smoothly.
There was also a relatively high turnout in the district as people continued to join the long queues.