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Harare Bureau
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has increased the number of polling stations for the harmonised elections to ensure that all registered voters cast their ballots.Zimbabwe goes to the polls on 31 July to elect a President, senators, National Assembly members and councillors in the synchronised elections.
Zec yesterday provisionally published 9 670 polling stations to be used for the polls, an increase from the 8 998 voting sites that were used in the 2008 harmonised elections.
According to the schedule published by Zec, Midlands has the highest number of polling stations with 1 342, followed by Mashonaland West (1 303), Manicaland (1 297), Masvingo (1 234), and Mashonaland East (1 047). Harare has 830 polling stations, Mashonaland Central (822), Matabeleland North (783), Matabeleland South (622) and Bulawayo (390).
Zec deputy chairperson Mrs Joyce Kazembe said the increase in the polling stations, established in terms of section 51 (3) of the Electoral Act, was a response to the increased number of people who had registered to vote.
She said the polling stations were increased after consultations with stakeholders, who included political parties.
“We consult stakeholders if they want additional polling stations,” she said.
“For this election, it was agreed that since the number of people who had registered had increased inevitably, we had to do the same on the number of polling stations. If we had relied on the number of 2008 harmonised elections, we felt that we might not be able to finish all the people.”
Mrs Kazembe said the figure could change, if there is any need.
The number of people on the voters’ roll has increased from over five million to more than six million since mandatory voter registration began with the publication of the new constitution on 22 May.
As of 30 June, Registrar of Voters Tobaiwa Mudede said at least 476 313 new voters were registered, while 142 624 voters had transferred from their initial voting centres.
He said 595 746 people had inspected the voters’ roll, with 337 030 others acquiring national identification cards.
Political parties contesting the polls hailed the move by Zec saying all voters will be able to cast their ballots.
Online Reporter