Vote counting was underway last night after peaceful by-elections held yesterday in eight National Assembly constituencies and several local authorities to replace Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators and councillors who were recalled by their party in October.
The polls were marked by orderly proceedings, while voter turnout was significantly low compared to the August 23-24 polls.
The National Assembly elections were held in Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula-Magwegwe, Lupane East, Mpopoma-Mzilikazi and Nketa constituencies.
In an interview following the closing of polling stations last night, Bulawayo provincial elections officer, Mr Innocent Ncube, said elections in the province were peaceful and calm.
He said results were expected to begin trickling last night.
“The by-elections are in the process of coming to an end, as we speak the polling stations have closed,” he said.
“The turnout was very low, which is typical of by-elections.
“The environment is very peaceful, we moved around and people were saying the environment was very peaceful.”
He said ballots were being counted at polling stations.
“Unfortunately, this centre does not have results,” he said, referring to the provincial command centre.
“This centre is only there to supervise. The results are in the constituencies.
“They will verify, and the results will (then) move on to the ward centres where they will be collated.
He said in places where there were local authority elections, the ward election officer would declare the winner.
“However, if there is a National Assembly election, the results will be announced at the constituency command centre and the election officer will declare results.
“We expect the results to be announced in a few hours.”
In Binga North, constituency elections officer Mr Pinos Buligwamanu attributed the low turnout to the searing heat.
He said 5 771 people had voted by 2pm.
“Reports that are coming to us indicate that all is well in our constituency,” he said.
“People are still voting but the heat has been too much.
“There is a lot of heat fatigue and heat stress, so much as to say as early as 10 am it was too much.
“But as temperatures are now dropping, we are told people are coming; going to polling stations and we expect an improvement.
“We are only expecting an average turnout.”
Beitbridge West constituency elections officer, Mr Adrian Muyambo, said voting went on seamlessly.
“The process went on very well,” he said.
“We have not witnessed any instances of violence.
Giving an update yesterday afternoon Matabeleland North provincial elections officer Mr Richard Sibanda said voting progressed well in the two constituencies where by-elections were being held – Binga North and Lupane East.
He said all polling stations opened at 7am.
In a statement last night, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission called on voters to exercise patience as they waited for release of the results.
“Polling stations have closed. Please be patient while results are being counted and collated,” said ZEC.
In Mabvuku-Tafara ZANU PF candidate Scott Sakupwanya, who was uncontested, was declared winner.
Source Zimsituation
