THE Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) has deployed six static observers in Mberengwa ward 15 and Nyanga ward 27 as well as observers at the ward collation centres and a roving team to the local authority by-elections.
The by-elections are being held in accordance with section 121A of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] following the death of the incumbent councillors for Mberengwa ward 15, Ravasingadi Zhou and Collins Matongo of Nyanga ward 27, respectively, both representing the ruling Zanu PF party.
The Nomination Court sat on Friday August 19, 2022 to receive nominations of prospective candidates.
Two candidates, Nkonzo Albenias of Zanu PF, and Conias Dhongijena of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), were duly nominated as candidates for Mberengwa ward 15, while Taurai Artwell Tichiwangani of CCC and Simon Nyazenga of Zanu PF, were candidates for Nyanga ward 27 at the close of sitting of the Nomination Court.
As of Saturday midday, the political environment in the respective wards was reported to be peaceful. No incidents were observed and reported during the polling process.
Zesn observers reported that the voters rolls were displayed two days before polling day to allow voters to check their names before.
Zesn implored the electorate to make use of the voters roll that is displayed outside polling stations to properly identify the polling station where they are supposed to cast their vote.
The six polling stations were opened on time and all the essential polling materials such as ballot boxes, ballot papers, indelible finger markers, voters roll and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission official stamp, were available at all polling stations.
- Chamisa party defiant after ban
- Village Rhapsody: How Zimbabwe can improve governance
- News in depth: Partisan police force persecutes opposition, shields Zanu PF rogue elements
- Chamisa chilling death threat bishop defiant
Keep Reading
Each of the polling stations was manned by an average of eight polling officers at the time of opening.
At five of the six polling stations observed, the presiding officers were reported to be men.
Social distancing was observed, especially in polling stations where there was space.
Voters and all other stakeholders, including observers and election officials who entered polling stations, had their masks on and no one was allowed to enter the polling station without a mask.
Voters also had their hands sanitised or washed at almost every polling station.
All visitors to the polling stations were required to register their names and contact details, presumably for COVID-19 tracing.
At both polling stations, Zesn observers reported that voting was proceeding well, with all polling procedures being duly followed in accordance with the law.
The two contesting parties — Zanu PF and CCC — deployed their party agents to track the polling process at all the polling stations in the by-elections.
High numbers of assisted voters on account of illiteracy and visual impairment induced by old age were observed at some polling stations as of midday.
For instance, in Mberengwa ward 15 by 11am, 24 voters had been assisted at Ruzengwe polling station; 19 at Chegato Secondary School polling station; nine at Magavakava Primary School polling station and 14 at Rubweruchena Tent polling station due to illiteracy.
In Nyanga ward 27 at Raudzi Primary School polling station, one voter was assisted and five voters were assisted at Nyanzou Primary School polling station.
Some people were turned away because their names were not on the voters roll or they could not produce valid identification documents in both by-elections.
As at 11am, about 12 people were turned away at Chegato Secondary School polling station.
Out of the 12 people that had been turned away whose names were not in the voters roll, one had no identify document (ID), one was redirected to Rubweruchena Tent polling station.
Ten were turned away at Magavakava Primary School polling station as they were not in the voters roll, while eight were turned away and one redirected to Ruzengwe polling station and one had presented a torn ID.
At Raudzi Primary School polling station in Nyanga, five voters were turned away, while eight people were turned away from voting at Nyanzou Primary School polling station for the same reasons.
Zesn observers reported that at around 11am, most of the voters who were turning up to vote were predominantly women followed by elderly persons.
The participation of youths in the by-elections was noticeably low. -Zesn
Zim should do more on cereal production
PLANTING of the 2023 cereal crops has begun this month and the harvest is expected to start in May next year.
Current weather forecasts point to a higher‑than‑normal likelihood of above‑average rainfall amounts between October 2022 and March 2023, boosting production prospects.
However, the high prices of agricultural inputs, including fertilisers and fuel, are going to increase production costs and reduce application rates, with a likely adverse impact on farmers’ planting intentions and yields.
Total cereal production, including a forecast of the winter wheat crop that will be harvested from October, is pegged at two million tonnes in 2022, 4% below the five‑year average.
Production of maize, the main food staple in the country, is estimated at about 1,6 million tonnes, slightly below the five‑year average.
The lower‑than‑average cereal outturn reflects unfavourable weather conditions, characterised by an uneven distribution of rains, which resulted in low yields and offset the positive effects of an above‑average area planted.
To compensate for the low cereal outturn in 2022, import requirements in the 2022/23 marketing year (April/March) are estimated to increase on a yearly basis, but remain lower than the recent five‑year average.
Maize imports are expected to rise between 100 000 and 200 000 tonnes in 2022/23, while a drawdown in stocks, which had been built up to above‑average levels in the previous two years, will also help meet national consumption needs.
Imports of wheat in 2022/23 are foreseen at below‑average levels due to a likely drawdown in domestic stocks.
By contrast, imports of rice, which is not produced in significant quantities in the country, are foreseen to rise to a level above the five‑year average, as international prices are comparatively stable.
The annual food inflation rate was estimated at 353% in August 2022. The country has experienced triple‑digit inflation rates since April 2022.
The exceptionally steep price increases have been underpinned by the sharp depreciation of the currency and elevated international prices of key food staples and energy.
In the second and third quarters of 2022, the government introduced a number of measures to curb inflationary pressure, raising to the benchmark interest rate and removing of import duties on several key food commodities, including cooking oil, maize meal and rice, for a period of six months from May.
These policies contributed to slightly ease the monthly food inflation rate, which was estimated at 14% in August compared to 29% in July. - Food and Agricultural Organisation
The plight of motorists in Harare central business district
HARARE motorists have for a long time been lodging complaints against some of Harare City Council (HCC) parking authorities who are now operating as misguided missiles defrauding both motorists and the HCC.
According to one motorist, “Everytime I park my vehicle in town, I am told that I owe HCC parking fees despite having been paying all my fees everytime I park. This has not happened once, but almost everytime. I am not the only one lodging the complaint, but almost everyone. Radio programmes have been done to this effect to no avail”.
The submission of the motorist was discovered to be watertight after the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) carried out a rapid survey response on September 30 and October 1.
The rapid survey response discovered that the majority of the complaints are lodged either on Fridays or Saturdays.
It is alleged that the majority of motorists do not check their receipts upon paying or they just give the parking officials money and walk away while they finalise the transaction.
It is at that time, that the parking official will then put credit on the car rather than a payment.
To motorists, once they see the receipt everything is perfect, little to their knowledge that they would have been defrauded.
The money that was supposed to go to HCC will now be taken by the parking officials as there is no record of the money being cashed into the HCC system.
The interviews with some parking officials have established that: “This is not something new, but the degree, scale, and magnitude of the practice has now been amplified by the harsh economic challenges we are encountering coupled with the poor wages we are receiving.”
For one parking official: “It is rather better for me to put credit on peoples’ cars than going home empty-handed. I am a father, I have a family that depends on me and the salaries we are getting are too meagre to cater for basics, not even talking about school fees”.
It is rather surprising that some parking officials are not denying the allegations, but rather find justification to defraud motorists, “mbudzi inodya payakasungirirwa” loosely translated to “a goat will eat where it’s tied”, was the popular phrase used by parking officials jokingly.
Parking officials who engage in this practice are going home with an average of US$30-US$40 per day.
All of this points to the porousness of HCC financial systems and lack of robust follow-up systems on complaints.
HCC is losing a lot of revenue for the much-needed service delivery, while at the same time motorists are being made to pay twice for the same service.
There is, therefore, a need for urgent intervention by HCC authorities to stamp out this rot and come up with ways to monitor parking officials strictly.
Random checks by supervisors will also help in redressing the challenge. - Zimcodd
IN response to Zanu PF old guard troops back, NANETTE ALLMARK says: Zanu PF does not understand the terrible consequences of its refusal to regenerate. These old fossils have destroyed Zimbabwe.
MATHEW NDLOVU says: Museum pieces. They can’t survive without stealing. The only institution that facilitates and protects thieving is Zanu PF. I bet my bottom dollar even those who are in exile also want to come back home and rejoin Zanu PF and steal as before.
IN response to ‘Compensate Gwayi-Shangani Dam victims’, TANAKA TSAPI says: They are not facing eviction, but flooding of the lands when the dam fills up. It’s the duty of government to relocate them. Development comes at a price, that’s something we cannot run away from.
ABEL NYATHI says: The affected people settled in that place about 25 years ago, so they knew about the planned dam construction.
IN response to HCC violates Pomona deal, DAVID KHUMALO says: Big opportunities for our countrymen and women. Let’s bring in recycling equipment, let’s recycle these plastics, etc. The world needs raw materials from this waste. Just recently, I saw plastic being exported to South Africa. I think it’s something we can do in Zimbabwe. There is a huge market for plastic granules. Maybe our councils should start by advertising these opportunities in Zimbabwe instead of selling everything to the highest bidder.
RUNDMAN SARP says: We are done with these corrupt characters in Zanu PF. They have no chance in Harare mayor Jacob Mafume.
IN response to Residents petition Parly over rundown Mbare flats, PATRICK MADHUZE says: Let’s register to vote for change. That’s the only solution.
IN response to Another teenager dies giving birth at shrine, MAQHAWE SBUSISO SBUZO says: It’s unfortunate that our voices will never be heard, but the Health ministry can make a plan to ensure that no girl has a child before the age of 18. It’s very possible.
GOONER KING says: How can the Zanu PF government criticise or enact laws that punish the biggest actors in child marriages? The Johane Marange Apostolic Church is a very huge support base for Zanu PF.
