INDEPENDENT candidate in the Chimanimani West by-election, Edmore Mtetwa, yesterday decried the failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to unveil the voters’ roll ahead of tomorrow’s poll, saying he feared it was aimed to allow vote-rigging by Zanu PF.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI
The outspoken candidate yesterday said he was also unsettled by Zanu PF Buhera South legislator, Joseph Chinotimba’s alleged claims at a rally at Nyanyadzi that in the event that their candidate, Nokuthula Matsikenyere lost the election, there would be a “rerun”.
“I am disappointed with Zec because they are yet to give us the voters’ roll. They were supposed to give us on the 21st of this month, but we are yet to get it,” he said. “I communicated with them and they said that we should check today in the afternoon (yesterday),” he said.
But Zec Manicaland provincial boss, Moffat Masabeya yesterday said the voters’ roll was ready for collection.
“The voters’ roll is now ready for collection. They should not expect us to go and give (it to) them. They should come and collect it. l have been here (Nedziwa) since morning and no one has come to collect the voters’ roll,” he said.
Mtetwa said he was also worried at the level of intimidation in the constituency, claiming people were locked inside Nedziwa Primary School while waiting for Cabinet ministers to come and address them.
“Chinotimba told people yesterday (Wednesday) at a rally that there was going to be a rerun if their candidate loses the election,” he said.
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Chinotimba was not reachable for comment yesterday.
Zanu PF bigwigs, who descended on Chimanimani, include Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, Water and Climate minister Oppah Muchinguri and Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
Matsikenyere also had a campaigning team comprising Chinotimba, Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene and Agriculture minister Joseph Made. The party has arranged a series of rallies in the constituency, as it fears a successive loss after outspoken politician, Temba Mliswa won the recent Norton by-election.
Other candidates contesting the by-election are Peter Gudyanga of Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe and Pesanai Musakaruka of the Lovemore Madhuku-led National Constitutional Assembly.
