NewsDay gives you live updates from the two parliamentary by-elections which are in MT Darwin West and Chirumanzu Zibagwe. The two seats fell vacant following the appointment of Joice Mujuru and Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Office of Vice-President.
However, Mujuru lost her post in December at the Zanu PF Congress. Mnangagwa was subsequently appointed as vice-president replacing Mujuru in both Zanu PF and government. In terms of the Constitution, a member of Parliament loses his/her seat once appointed to the Office of Vice-President.
Voting in Chirumanzu Zibagwe Opposition political parties and candidates contesting with Auxillia Mnangagwa of Zanu PF in the Chirumanzu Zibagwe by-election failed to field election agents at a number of polling stations in the 15 wards that make the constituency.
Only Zanu PF had its presence in all polling stations by the time voting started at 7am with no incidents or delays reported by midday.
Voting in MT Darwin West
14:45 Latest by 12 pm 9904 had voted. Illiterate/assisted voters were 1197, blind voters 48, and 561 had been turned away.
14:30 In an interview with NewsDay, Provincial election officer Thenjiwe Mkandla said there have been no reports of violence and intimidation in the constituency. She said results would be ready tomorrow morning.
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14:15 Long queues at Chiutsa Primary School.
14:01 Kasukuwere says the party will win all the by-elections in the country.
14:00 Zanu PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere said the party was not moved by the MDC’s boycott saying the party was just a failed movement that has expired.
13:15 Results, according to Constituency elections officer Exstaff Koti will only be availed tomorrow because some polling stations are far and network challenges. There are 46 polling stations and 11 wards.
13:12 Long queues only at Mutungagore Primary School in Ward 18 and Karaga in Ward 36.
13:10 213 had been turned away by 10 am for either having gone to the wrong ward or were not on the voter’s roll.
13:05 Latest figures yet to come because of network problems.
13:00 Constituency elections officer Exstaff Koti in MT Darwin West said by 10 am 5142 people had voted.
12:50 Voters who spoke to NewsDay were concerned mostly with the drought and hope that the new MP can assist them.
12:35 Most polling centres around the command centre have a low turnout.
12:20 NewsDay reporters are now at Dotito Growth Point where Environment minister Saviour Kasukuwere is expected to come later.
12:05 Zanu PF candidate voted at Ward 19, Mudzinga Hall.
12:05 At Dotito Command Centre now.
11:58 At Karuyana Station, Zanu PF and Transformation Zimbabwe have agents on the ground.
11:55 A policeman enjoys a cup of tea at a nearby homestead.
11:55 Karuyana business service centre, about 10 kilometres from MT Darwin, initially one elderly man came to cast his vote, moments later about five people arrived. A ZEC official said the turnout was low but people were still trickling in. The polling station is in a bushy area.
11:54 Three centres visited by our reporters, only Dotito had more than ten in the queue.
11:53 Poor turnout so far in MT Darwin.
