What you need to know about this election

THE much-anticipated election has come and Zimbabweans from all corners of the country will today cast their vote for the President, National Assembly and local government.

Out of the estimated 6,6 million registered voters, there are many first-time voters who will participate in this election to choose the President out of the 11 candidates, 210 National Assembly seats and 1 958 councillors.

For starters, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said polling stations will be opened at 7am closing at 7pm, which gives voters enough time to cast their vote.

The Government has also declared August 23 as a national holiday to give citizens adequate time to exercise their democratic right. According to ZEC, the presidential ballot paper is blue in colour while the National Assembly one is peach and for Local Authorities the ballot paper is grey.

However, the number contesting National Assembly candidates is fluid and is dependent on contestants per constituency, as is the case with local authorities.

The country’s elections are polling station-based, which means the electorate can only cast their votes in a single polling station where their name appears.

The country has a total of 12 370 polling stations and from the population of registered voters, the electorate will only find their names in a single polling station.

For those who are not sure but have registered, they can check if they are registered through punching *265# on mobile network phones, which will provide data on their polling station.

The voting process, steps to follow:
When going to vote, one must produce a national identity card that can be of metal, plastic or waiting pass with a holder’s photograph or a valid Zimbabwean passport.

The physically impaired are assisted by adults who are 18 years old and above.
There are eight steps to be taken upon arriving at a polling station and the first one being ushered into the station where hands sanitization will be done. Thereafter, identification particulars are checked as well as checking fingers for indelible mark to curb double voting.

Secondly, according to ZEC, polling officers will check if the individual’s name appears on the voter’s roll and thirdly record the age and sex of the voter.

If the polling officer has verified all the details, they will give the voter three ballot papers containing the Presidential, National Assembly, and local authority candidates before marking the left finger of the candidate with an indelible mark.

In case of disability, the next finger will be marked, thereafter the voter will go behind a booth where they will secretly cast their votes. Secretly voting means no one should reveal who they voted for and it is illegal to take pictures while in the process of casting votes.

Taking pictures while casting votes and publishing them is a criminal offence that can lend one in conflict with law enforcement agents.
Voters are expected to place an ‘X’ in their preferred candidate and should not overlap their marking, as this might render their vote spoiled. Voting for more than one candidate also renders the vote spoiled.

If a voter makes a mistake, they should fold the ballot paper and return it to the presiding officer, who will mark it cancelled before giving the voter another one.

Upon successfully marking their ballot papers, voters should also carefully make sure that they place their ballot papers into the correct transparent ballot boxes. Thereafter, this marks the end of the voting process and the voter is expected to leave the polling station.
Dos and don’ts

It is a criminal offence to want to remain at a polling station after casting the vote and the police have already warned against unsanctioned gatherings at polling stations. Some of the activities, which are prohibited within 300metre radius of the polling station include public singing, dancing and the use of bands, music, or loudspeakers as well as the use of cameras or phones.

ZEC is the only institution mandated to announce election results. Anyone found doing so will be duly charged for violating the Electoral Act.
Peaceful voting Zimbabweans, polls are held on a single day but we need each other every day.
-@nqotshili