#ZimDecides2023 UPDATE: Voting underway peacefully but delays and inefficiencies take center stage

Credit: Sky News

Voting is underway in most parts of Zimbabwe as the country goes through the process of electing a president, members of the national assembly and councilors for the next five years.

The president and candidate for the ruling party voted in the early hours of the day while his main contender, Nelson Chamisa voted hours later.

10 candidates are contesting for the presidency after Douglas Mwonzora of the MDC pulled out weeks to the vote cutting down the number from the initial 11.

Polls opened officially at 7:00am local time but 8 hours later, several polling stations are still yet to vote according to media reports.

Voting is expected to close at 7:00pm local time across the country.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has stated that voters in the queue by 7:00pm will be allowed to vote although Open Parly ZW, a media platform based in Harare monitored by the African Elections Project reported that the directive is not being observed in some polling stations they have observed.

ZEC also said polling stations that have witnessed delays will receive an extension in equal measure as the delay endured.

Meanwhile, local media reported missing names on the voter rolls as well as candidates on ballot papers in some constituencies. This sentiment has been corroborated by the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

The CCC has since called on its representatives and agents across the country to remain vigilant and not be deterred by the “intimidation tactics” of ZANU PF, the ruling party.

In one instance, the Finance Minister and the ruling party’s candidate for Cowdray Park Bulawayo, Mthuli Ncube had to leave his polling station because there were no ballot papers to vote.

Open Parly ZW also observed irregularities including lack of ballot papers for some national assembly elections and councilor elections with the EC providing only presidential ballot papers.

Majority of the irregularities and absence of ballot papers have been witnessed in urban centres including the capital Harare and Bulawayo which are believed to be strongholds of the opposition based on previous election results.

Nonetheless, Women in Politics Support Unit, a Harare-based organization has praised the participation of women so far. The organization reported a good number of women are showing up to vote and in some cases, more women are seen in voting queues than men.