happiness ChikwanhaGeorge Maponga in Masvingo
Scores of Zanu-PF supporters in Gutu yesterday staged a demonstration at Mpandawana Growth Point over alleged irregularities and widespread disenfranchisement during last weekend’s provincial elections.The placard-waving supporters camped at the Gutu District Administrator’s Office demanding a re-run of the voting process in the district, insisting that the outcome of the provincial polls was not reflective of the people’s wishes.
The demonstration came as losing Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairmanship aspirant Cde Ailes Baloyi yesterday said he had also written a dossier to the party’s national commissariat detailing how thousands of voters were not allowed to cast their ballot in Gutu, Bikita, Zaka and other areas.
Cde Baloyi maintained that he did not recognise Retired Brigadier General Callisto Gwanetsa’s win in the provincial chairmanship race, adding that eligible bona fide Zanu-PF members who were turned away on voting day should be allowed vote.
At Mpandawana, the demonstrators, who included war veterans and war collaborators, charged that last weekend’s provincial elections were marred by irregularities which made the outcome not credible.
Cde Cosmas Mufari, the Zanu-PF district political commissar for Chikwiza in Gutu, alleged widespread tempering with the voter registers which he said excluded many eligible voters.
“Many people who were supposed to vote in Chikwiza district were sent away as they were told that their names were not on the voter register and only a few people who were eligible to vote,’’ he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Chartsworth Zanu-PF district chairman Cde Alois Dick who alleged that only a few hand picked people cast their ballot last Saturday, while the rest were not able to vote as the voter register was altered two days before the poll.
“Many of us were not able to vote because our names were not in the voter register and we were surprised to see some people outside the party structures being hand picked to vote and when we tried to protest riot police were unleashed on us and we feel this should be corrected to save the party from being weakened,’’ said Cde Dick.
Cde Raphael Mudahondo, the Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators Association chairman for Badza district, appealed to the Zanu-PF national leadership to meticulously audit the voting process during last weekend’s elections and take urgent corrective measures.
Some of the placards had messages such as “Gutu district from bad to worse after the Zanu-PF provincial elections” and “No to stealing votes”.
Last weekend’s elections have already torched a storm, with some losing candidates alleging irregularities which they said impacted on the poll outcome.
The results of the provincial elections are now awaiting ratification by the Politburo and the election team leader in Masvingo Cde Nicholas Goche has already said those with complaints should write them down for tabling.
Cde Baloyi who lost to Retired Brigadier General Gwanetsa alleged that deployment of riot police in areas such as Gutu and Masvingo districts on voting day affected the election process as some of the officers ended up chasing away prospective voters.
Cde Shylet Uyoyo landed the Masvingo provincial Women’s League chair, while Cde Oliver Huruva was elected the Youth League boss in the province.
Online Reporter