Polls have officially closed in most parts of
Zimbabwe according to the electoral commission schedule in a vote fraught with
brazen infractions and disenfranchisement.
Counting has begun in polling stations where voting
took place without significant hitches
Several polling stations in the capital Harare and
Bulawayo believed to be strongholds of the main opposition are yet to start
voting as at 7pm local time which is the time for closing polls.
Open Parly ZW, a local media organization in the
country reported that some polling stations were starting to vote around an
hour or two to the official closing time.
The EC had earlier stated that voters who are in the
queues by 7pm local time will be allowed to vote while polling stations that
experienced delays will be compensation in equal measure.
It also blamed court cases in the urban centres for
delaying the printing of ballot papers leading to the inefficiencies
experienced on voting day.
The opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa has held a
press conference accusing the ruling party of conniving with the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission (ZEC).
“This is a clear case of voter suppression, a
classic case of Stone Age, antiquated, analog rigging,” he stated in the
capital Harare.
Several instances of misinformation and intimidation
tactics were reported mostly in the urban areas.
Civil society organizations including the Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights and Crisis Coalition have expressed dissatisfaction
with ZEC for their handling of the elections.
Largely, voting has been peaceful but an opposition
spokesman has claimed that one person had died “fighting to cast his vote” in
Warren Park, Harare.
According to the electoral law, results are expected
to be declared within five (5) days.
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