Opposition polling agents have reportedly been denied access to voting stations in Bikita West constituency amid reports that the anti-riot police squad has been deployed and allegedly victimizing suspected opposition voters.
This follows the arrests of 10 activists in the area yesterday. Reports suggest that one of the activists, Simba Chivasa suffered a fractured leg after he was allegedly assaulted in custody at Bikita Office Police Station.
“The riot police stationed in Bikita are reported to have been deployed from Masvingo, leading to their arbitrary threats on the polling officers”, according the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. “The polling agents had to flea for their dear life, deserting the polling stations”.
At the time of going to Press, the agents had not returned to their polling stations while voters continued to cast their ballots.
The coalition said the denying opposition polling agents access to polling stations was clear evidence that President Robert Mugabe’s administration was “determined to manipulate the already flowed process in its favour”.
Gospel musician Elias Musakwa of Zanu PF is contesting the Bikita West constituency seat against Heya Shoko of the Movement for Democratic Change.
Mugabe is also contesting the presidency against his former finance minister Simba Makoni and long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai of the main opposition MDC. Little-known Langton Towungana is also vying for the country’s top job
In Harare, meanwhile, some potential voters decided not to join the polling queues but were instead queuing for basic commodities such as bread and sugar.
Harare, like many urban areas, is believed to be an opposition stronghold.
Some polling stations in Highfields – the ceremonial home of people power – opened some minutes late while some voters said the had joined the queues as early as 0400 hours. Others complained that the voting process was slow with polling officials saying this was because they only had one voters’ roll at every polling station.
It was taking about two minutes per voter to cast four ballots.
Zimbabweans today are electing councillors, members of the House of Assembly, the Senate as well as the president.
Mugabe has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.
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