Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka/Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Writers
ALL is set for today’s National Assembly by-election in Nkulumane Constituency, with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declaring a 100 percent readiness to deliver a free, fair and credible poll.
The commission has injected money to the tune of ZWG21 million towards holding the election, which was triggered by the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Desire Moyo, in October this year.
Addressing a Press conference at Nkulumane High School — the designated Constituency Command Centre yesterday, ZEC Deputy Chairperson, Commissioner Ambassador Rodney Simukai Kiwa, assured the public that it is all systems go as the commission has done adequate preparations with no major challenges from stakeholders.
“In terms of our state of preparedness, all material and human resources are in place. The constituency elections officer, deputies, presiding officers and polling officers for all electoral centres have been recruited and trained. We expect nothing less than 100 percent delivery competence,” he said.
Kiwa warned that the commission would maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward inefficiency, given the significant financial investment in the process.
“We will not tolerate any lapses, as we have invested heavily in this process. The budget for this entire electoral exercise is ZWG21 million,” he said.
Altogether, 34 polling stations have been established across Wards 22 and 23 of the Bulawayo Municipality.
Ward 22 will use Nkulumane High School as its collation centre, while Queen Elizabeth Primary School will serve Ward 23.
To cater to the constituency’s 22 833 registered voters, ZEC has printed 23 500 ballot papers, a figure that includes a nearly three percent contingency.
“In accordance with the law, we have printed 23 500 ballot papers, which includes a 2,92 percent contingency provision. This contingency is vital because people occasionally make mistakes before inserting their ballot into the box,” Kiwa explained
“In such cases, the ballot is marked as spoiled, and a new one is issued. This ensures that every qualified voter has the opportunity to express their will.”
The printing was conducted by the Printing and Minting Company of Zimbabwe, in line with Section 52A (2) of the Electoral Act.
Kiwa commended the political maturity displayed by candidates and supporters during the lead-up to today’s vote, noting that the nomination court sat on November 20 to clear the contenders.
“I would like to express our gratitude to all stakeholders for maintaining peace and tolerance during the campaign period.
“The high number of candidates proves that our constituents are aware of their voting rights and the importance of participating in the democratic process,” he said.
Accreditation for observers remains open until today to ensure maximum transparency.
“We want our elections to be observed by as many stakeholders as possible . . . We encourage people to come out in their numbers tomorrow (today) to vote for their preferred candidates.
“That is the essence of democracy, and we are here to facilitate it,” Kiwa said.
Polling stations across the constituency are expected to open at 7AM and close at 7PM tonight.
Kiwa, accompanied by fellow commissioners Abigail Ambrose and Rosewitter Murutare, yesterday conducted a final assessment of several polling stations to verify the commission’s readiness for today’s parliamentary by-election.
The 34 polling stations have been strategically established across the constituency to facilitate a seamless and efficient voting process.
The logistical distribution includes 15 stations housed in tents, 14 located in schools, two in community halls, and three within churches.
The Zimpapers news crew yesterday observed a steady stream of residents visiting these sites to verify their details on voters’ rolls posted outside the polling stations.
