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Chief Court Reporter
REGISTRAR-GENERAL Mr Tobaiwa Mudede yesterday refuted claims that people from a farm in Mazowe South voted in Mt Pleasant constituency to give Zanu-PF victory in the harmonised elections of July 31, 2013. Mr Mudede said part of Teviotdale in Mazowe South constituency had been annexed to Mt Pleasant constituency before the elections by way of a Statutory Instrument promulgated in 2012, but this was reversed after politicians in the affected areas raised concerns.
Mr Mudede was testifying in the petition brought to the Electoral Court by MDC-T losing candidate Mr Jameson Timba, who is challenging Cde Jason Passade’s victory in Mt Pleasant. Cde Passade represents Zanu-PF.
“People from Kaduku Farm were removed from that area by way of a Statutory Instrument into Ward 17 (Mt Pleasant Heights) but this was challenged by politicians,” said Mr Mu- dede under cross-examination by Mr Timba’s lawyer, Mr Trust Maanda.
“A policy decision was then made to have the people from the farm remain in their constituency, which is Mazowe South. So the RG had to re-assign these people through the block system without carrying out a fresh registration.”
On why his office failed to provide Mr Timba with an electronic voters’ roll, Mr Mudede said they had an electronic voters’ roll until their server broke down a few days before the elections because of the heavy work they had at the time.
Mr Mudede, however, said all the political parties and their candidates were furnished with hard copies of the voters’ roll.
Chief elections officer Mr Lovemore Sekeramayi also testified yesterday. Mr Sekeramayi said he was based at the National Command Centre to announce results at national level.
Asked to explain alleged discrepancies in poll results announced at the Mt Pleasant constituency command centre and at the National Command Centre, Mr Sekeramayi said the best person to answer that would be the constituency elections officer.
“I can only talk about results we announced at national level,” said Mr Sekeramayi adding, “If there are any results other than those we announced, I am unable to explain.”
Mr Sekeramayi said the results they announced came from the constituency command centre.
Online Reporter