Mash Central chiefs hail peaceful elections

Fungai Lupande

Mashonaland Central Bureau

Chiefs in Mashonaland Central have expressed satisfaction with the level of political maturity exhibited by Zimbabweans as they maintained peace during the just-ended harmonised elections.

Speaking on behalf of other chiefs after the Chiefs Senate elections in Bindura yesterday, Chief Nyamaropa said Zimbabwe has come of age in upholding democracy.

He said this level of peace is a first of its kind, 43 years after independence from Britain.

“A peaceful environment prevailed before and during the voting process. We did not receive reports of intimidation or violence,” he said.

“We now see that people are tolerant and observe the cultural values of ubuntu/(hunhu).”

Voting continued yesterday in Ward 4 of Bindura North and Ward 3 in Mt Darwin, to compensate for the delays in the delivery of ballot papers for local government elections on August 23.

In an interview yesterday afternoon, provincial elections officer Mrs Thenjiwe Mukandhla, said voting was going on well in the two wards.

The late delivery of ballot papers resulting in the polling stations either opening late, was also experienced in Rushinga’s Ward 25, Ward 16 of Bindura and in Muzarabani.

By late yesterday, the situation was peaceful in Bindura, with people going about their businesses.

Mrs Mukandhla confirmed that there had been no incidents of violence across the province.

“The affected polling stations extended voting hours depending on the time lost. The voting process started on time in most of the polling stations with slight challenges of lighting at a few polling stations,”she said.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe said they had not received reports of politically motivated violence before and during the voting process.

He said it was important for people in the province to be peaceful all the time.

It was back to business in the central business district yesterday as people were doing their work, while waiting for the announcement of election results.