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Bulawayo Bureau
PEOPLE with disabilities who cast their vote during Wednesday’s election have commended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for creating an enabling environment that allowed them vote freely and with ease.
During the election process, people with disability (PWDs), the elderly and pregnant mothers were given preferential treatment at polling stations as they did not have to queue.
Those who are visually-impaired were being taken through the voting process in the company of a person of their choice.
The hearing and lingually impaired were equally being assisted by polling officers who are fluent in sign language. PWDs also participated as election officers at various polling stations.
Ms Angeline Moyo who cast her vote at Gwanda High School under Gwanda-Tshitaudze Constituency in Matabeleland South said she was pleased with the electoral process. She said it is important for her to exercise her legal right to vote.
“I’m physically disabled and I’m glad that when I got to the polling station I didn’t stand in the queue. A polling officer helped me to check for my name on the voters roll outside the polling station and this made the process easier for me,” she said.
“As people with disability we also have a legal right to cast our vote, but if the environment isn’t conducive then some people might shy away.
“I would like to urge other PWDs not to shy away and participate in future elections. I don’t usually move around due to my condition, but today I took upon myself to come and exercise my right because no one will do it for me. If we all sit then who will vote,” she said.
Ms Florence Mokwena who is visually impaired cast her vote at Jacaranda tent under Gwanda North Constituency in the company of her sister.
She said she was excited by the provision to choose a person to accompany her. Ms Mokwena said in the past the visually impaired were being accompanied by presiding officers, which made the process uncomfortable.
“I have voted and I was able to do this in the company of a person of my choice who is a relative, a person that I can trust. In the past we used to vote in the company of presiding officers and this made me feel insecure,” she said.
“What guarantee do I even have that the person would have marked in the box of the person I would have chosen.
“A vote is confidential and if I’m doing it with the assistance of another person, I deserve to select someone that I trust. This makes the voting process free for us.
“I’m glad that Government has made reforms that have made the voting process convenient for us. We have been calling for this change for a very long time,” she said.
Ms Mokwena said in future there is need for ZEC to incorporate braille so that the visually-impaired can go through the voting process on their own.
Ms Blessing Shumba who is visually-impaired cast her vote at Gwanda High School under Gwanda-Tshitaudze Constituency. She said her disability will not deter her from casting her vote as she realises the importance of the electorate process. Ms Shumba said she was pleased by the level of professionalism by the polling officers at her polling station.
Online Reporter