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Stores Assistant

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it has withdrawn ballot papers in eight constituencies that were affected by a ruling by High Court judge Justice Never Katiyo who nullified the nomination of recalled Citizens Coalition For Change (CCC) candidates for the 09 December 2023 by-elections.
Justice Katiyo granted the party’s self-declared interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu an application to bar recalled CCC candidates from participating in the upcoming by-elections.
CCC’s deputy spokesman Gift Siziba on Thursday said that the party had appealed against the decision by Justice Katiyo at the Supreme Court.
In a statement, ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Utoile Silaigwana said that they are going to reprint ballots for Binga North, Lupane East, Cowdray Park, Bulawayo South, Lobengula-Magwegwe, Beitbridge West, Nketa, Mpopoma-Mzilikazi constituencies in compliance with the court order.
The recalled CCC representatives who were affected by the recent ruling by Justice Katiyo are:
<ul>
<li>Sibanda Dubeko Prince</li>
<li>Moyo Bright Vanya</li>
<li>Nkomo Veliswe</li>
<li>Toffa Jasmine</li>
<li>Mlilo Stabile</li>
<li>Sibanda Pashor Raphael</li>
<li>Watson Nicola Jane</li>
<li>Gono Ereck</li>
<li>Zana Evidence Sunungurai</li>
<li>Ncube Morgan</li>
<li>Manduna Obert</li>
<li>Dube Janeth</li>
<li>Makaza Desmond</li>
<li>Shoko Gideon</li>
<li>Sibanda Tendai</li>
<li>Moyo Anastasia</li>
<li>Gabuzza Joel</li>
<li>Chimhini David</li>
<li>Ncube Siphiwe</li>
<li>Sibanda Felix</li>
<li>Zivira Helen</li>
<li>Madzikana Mativenga</li>
</ul>
The CCC candidates who were nominated for the direct first-past-the-post elections are:
Sibanda Dubeko Prince (Binga North), Moyo Bright Vanya Lupane East (Cowdray Park), Watson Nicola Jane (Bulawayo South), Gono Ereck (Lobengula-Magwegwe), Ncube Morgan (Beitbridge West), Manduna Obert (Nketa), Makaza Desmond (Mpopoma-Mzilikazi).
Silaigwana said the named individuals will not have their names appearing on the ballot paper in the Saturday by-elections. He said:
<blockquote>
Consequently, the said persons are not candidates for the by-elections on 9 December 2023. In terms of the court order, the Commission has been ordered not to include the names of the said persons in the preparation of ballot papers to be used in the by-elections.
The Commission is thus withdrawing all ballot papers that had been printed and distributed to the respective Constituencies and will reprint and redistribute ballots that are in compliance with the court order.
Kindly note that this will not affect the number of ballots to be printed and the number remains as notified in the notice published on 27 November 2023. The printer remains Printing and Minting Company.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

ZEC Withdraws Ballot Papers For 09 December By-elections

Vote counting was underway across much of Zimbabwe on Thursday, 24 August, a day after a general election.
Zimbabweans went to the polls on 23 August to elect a new president, and parliamentary and local government representatives for the next five years.
However, voting was still taking place in some parts of the country after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) failed to deliver ballot papers to polling stations on time.
ZEC chief elections officer, Utoile Silaigwana said vote counting at polling stations which were not affected by the delays started immediately after voting closed on Wednesday evening at 7 PM. He was quoted by <a href="https://newziana.co.zw/2023/08/24/vote-counting-underway-in-zimbabwes-election/">New Ziana</a> as saying:
<blockquote>
Yes, vote counting is underway where the election was run on schedule, and where it has been completed after the delays. So it is at various stages, but is going on as we speak.
</blockquote>
Electoral officials said the areas where vote counting was underway were more than 95 percent of the electoral map.
They also said the extended voting will not affect the five-day timeframe of the announcement of the results.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his main rival, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa, on Wednesday, expressed confidence they will prevail in the presidential race.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Vote Counting Underway In Zimbabwe's General Election

Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, who leads the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), on Wednesday said the delay in delivering ballot material to polling stations by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was aimed at “stealing” his urban vote.
Since the year 2000, the opposition has emerged victorious in elections in the majority of urban areas.
ZEC failed to deliver ink, Local Authority and National Assembly ballot papers at many polling stations in Harare and Bulawayo.
Some polling stations received the material as late as 5 PM and some voters went home without casting their ballots.
Addressing the media in Harare on Wednesday afternoon, Chamisa said ZEC’s “handlers” were “afraid” and “rattled”. He said:
<blockquote>
What is disturbing is we hoped to have a normal election… but it’s a cause for concern.
ZEC seems to have confirmed our fears that they will not be able to pass the test, the transparency test, and the constitutionality.
The fact that they targeted Harare and Bulawayo is an indication that they are scared.
This is a clear case of voter suppression… where you find an excuse to say we don’t have the council candidate ballot when you have ones for the presidential and national assembly.
ZEC is not alone. It has handlers and it’s those handlers who are afraid.
You can see that ZANU PF is rattled. They are uncomfortable.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended voting to Thursday, 24 August, at polling stations that failed to open on time on Wednesday.
Mnangagwa extended voting in selected wards through Statutory Instrument 151 of 2023, Proclamation 5 of 2023.
According to the schedule, polling stations in the wards listed below will be open to allow voters to cast their ballots on Thursday, 24 August:
Ward 8, Buhera RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 25, Buhera RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 1, Chimanimani, Manicaland Province
Ward 2, Chipinge RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 1, Chipinge Town Council, Manicaland Province
Ward 2, Chipinge Town Council, Manicaland Province
Ward 3, Chipinge Town Council, Manicaland Province
Ward 7, Makoni RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 7, Mutare Municipality, Manicaland Province
Ward 22, Mutare RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 25, Mutare RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 6, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 16, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 17, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 18, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 19, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 20, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 21, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 25, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 26, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 27, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 28, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 29, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 30, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 31, Mutasa RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 19, Nyanga RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 26, Nyanga RDC, Manicaland Province
Ward 3, Pfura RDC, Mashonaland Central Province
Ward 4, Bindura RDC, Mashonaland Central Province
Ward 32, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 30, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 12, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 26, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 33, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 31, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 34, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 14, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 24, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 28, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
Ward 16, Harare Municipality, Harare Province
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chamisa Alleges "Voter Suppression", Says ZEC's "Handlers" Clearly Targeted Harare, Bulawayo

Several polling stations in Harare opened just before the official closing time, while some of the centres which opened late did so well after 7 PM.
In the run-up to the polls, the Zimbabwe Electoral Authority (ZEC) announced that polling stations will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM.
However, on Wednesday morning, ZEC said that voting hours will be extended at some polling stations due to delays in the opening of polls. Below are some of the polling stations in Harare and other places that opened late:
<ul>
<li>At Warren Park 2 High School, voting started around 3 PM but then local authority ballot papers ran out.</li>
<li>Voting started around 5 PM at Mwacheta Primary School in the Mutema-Musikavanhu constituency due to a shortage of voting material, according to the ZEC presiding officer.</li>
<li>Voting in Budiriro, Ward 33, voting reportedly commenced around 6.40 PM.</li>
<li>At Glen Norah (Chitubu) Ward 28, voting was yet to start well after 7 PM.</li>
<li>At Kuwadzana 3 Primary School, voting was halted in the afternoon after ballot papers ran out. Voting resumed at 7 PM.</li>
<li>There was still no voting at Warren Park 6 Primary School at 7 PM since morning.</li>
<li>Voting started around 8 PM at Cold Comfort.</li>
<li>At Warren Park 4 polling station in Harare, voting started around 8 PM, an hour after polls were supposed to have closed.</li>
<li>At Budiriro 3 Primary where voting started at 6.40 PM: voters were told around 8.30 PM that ballot papers had run out again. They were told to wait.</li>
<li>In Nyanyadzi, suspected Forever Associate Zimbabwe (FAZ) members were reportedly interviewing voters right outside polling stations and collecting their ID numbers.</li>
</ul>
Posting on X at 7.55 PM, former Harare East MP, <a href="https://twitter.com/BitiTendai/status/1694407934506110978?s=20">Tendai Biti</a>, said there has been no voting in Ward 16 Osborne Dam, Ward 19 Honde Valley, Ward 17 Watsomba area, Ward 29 Pafiwa, and Old Murapa area.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Unavailability Of Ballot Papers Mar Zimbabwe's General Elections

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has announced that voting has started for the 2023 harmonised elections although some polling stations did not open on time due to the late deployment of election material. In a statement seen by Pindula News, the commission said delays in the opening have largely been caused by delays in printing of the ballot paper arising from numerous Court challenges. This has been the case with Harare and Bulawayo provinces. We present the statement below:
<blockquote>
<h3>PRESS RELEASE: OPENING OF POLL</h3>
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) wishes to announce that, polling has commenced for the Harmonised Elections. However, some polling stations did not open on time due to the late deployment of election material. Below is a summary of the current state on opening of polling stations per province:
<ul>
<li>Masvingo: 100% of polling stations opened at 7am</li>
<li>Midlands: 99% of polling stations opened at 7am</li>
<li>Matabeleland North: 100% of polling stations opened at 7am</li>
<li>Matabeleland South: 100% of polling stations opened at 7am</li>
<li>Mashonaland Central: 95% of polling stations opened at 7am</li>
<li>Mashonaland East: 95% of polling stations opened at 7am</li>
<li>Mashonaland West: 99% of polling stations opened at 7am</li>
<li>Manicaland: 85% of polling stations opened at 7am</li>
<li>Bulawayo: 75% of polling stations opened at 8:15am (representing 21 out of 29 wards)</li>
<li>Harare: 23% of polling stations opened at 7am (representing 18 out of 77 wards)</li>
</ul>
Delays in the opening have largely been caused by delays in printing of the ballot paper arising from numerous Court challenges. This has been the case with Harare and Bulawayo provinces.
The public is advised that all polling stations that opened late for reasons beyond the control of the presiding officer will remain open to cater for the period of the delay, keeping in mind that the polling station must remain open for a continuous period of at least 12 hours on polling day.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission takes this opportunity to thank the people of Zimbabwe for the political tolerance and maturity that has been exhibited thus far. We urge all voters at polling stations where delays are being experienced to remain patient as we work tirelessly to ensure delivery of the required material so that they exercise their right to vote.
ZEC implores on all citizens of all political persuasions to continue to exercise tolerance and respect for each other so that we can collectively deliver a free, fair and credible election.
</blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

FULL TEXT: ZEC Speaks On Delays In Voting

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said in the event that a voter makes an error at the polling station, they are permitted to obtain a fresh ballot paper.
In a statement, ZEC said presiding officers can give a voter a fresh ballot paper in the event the voter makes an error. ZEC said:
<blockquote>
If a voter makes a mistake when marking the ballot, he or she must fold this particular Ballot Paper, return it to the Presiding officer, and ask for a Replacement Ballot Paper.
In addition, double lines must be put across the spoiled ballot paper, and the presiding officer must write the term cancelled.
The Presiding Officer draws double lines across the ballot paper and writes the word “Cancelled” on the ballot as well as on the counterfoil.
</blockquote>
ZEC also said the Presidential election ballot paper is blue, the National Assembly is peach and the Local Authority is grey.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters Can Get Replacements For Spoilt Ballot Papers - ZEC

A police officer who was guarding election materials at a school in Jambezi, Matabeleland North Province, was detained at Victoria Falls Police Station after being found asleep and drunk on Sunday.
Detective Seargent Shepherd Tokowa was guarding Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) election materials at Sacred Heart Mission.
According to a memo from Victoria Falls police seen by <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/drunk-sleepy-cop-removed-from-guarding-ballot-papers-at-mat-north-school/">ZimLive</a>, senior police officers conducting spot checks on officers deployed at polling stations spent 30 minutes trying to awaken Detective Tokowa. Reads the memo in part:
<blockquote>
At about 9 AM on August 20, a team led by Inspector Mbewe was conducting spot checks at polling stations.
Upon arrival at Sacred Heart Mission Hall where member was deployed, they found out that the polling station was locked.
</blockquote>
Another police officer peeped through the window “and discovered that the defaulter was still asleep in the hall where he was safeguarding polling material.” The memo said:
<blockquote>
Efforts to awaken the defaulter were made for about 30 minutes when he woke up and unlocked the door.
The ward election officer Sikhumbuzo Moyo, a teacher at Jabula Primary School in Jambezi, complained to the visiting officers that the member’s conduct was not pleasant, and he looked visibly drunk.
The defaulter was relieved of his duties and uplifted to Victoria Falls.
</blockquote>
ZEC has sent election materials to 12 374 polling stations countrywide ahead of Wednesday’s general elections and the materials are kept under guard round the clock.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Drunk, Sleepy Police Officer Removed From Guarding Ballot Papers

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has reportedly committed to providing all the information relating to the printing and distribution of ballot papers to be used in the 23 August 2023 general elections.
Posting on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter this Thursday, Harare lawyer Thabani Mpofu said that ZEC promised to provide the information by the end of the day on 19 August. He said:
<blockquote>
ZEC has advised that it will supply all the information relating to the printing and distribution of ballot papers. It has committed to doing so by the end of the day on the 19th.
Should the information not be to the satisfaction of the applicants, the matter will be argued on the 21st.
</blockquote>
This comes after the opposition CCC made an urgent court application seeking an order to compel ZEC to disclose details relating to the printing, distribution, and serial numbers of the ballot papers for the upcoming harmonised elections.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Pledges To Avail Information About Ballot Paper Printing

The opposition CCC on Wednesday, 16 August, filed an urgent court application regarding the printing of ballot papers by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
The applicants, CCC and the party’s secretary for elections, Ian Makone, cited ZEC, ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba, and ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondent, respectively.
The applicants, who are being represented by Mtetwa &amp; Nyambirai legal practitioners, argue that the ballots were printed without them knowing who printed the ballot papers, how many ballots were printed, and how they were distributed.
The application reads in part:
<blockquote>
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
1. Respondents shall in terms of s52A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) immediately and at any rate no later than 3 hours of this order provide applicants with the following details:
i. All the information relating to where and by whom the ballot papers to be used in the harmonised elections to be held on the 23rd of August 2023 were printed.
ii. The total number of ballot papers that have been printed for the harmonised elections to be held on the 23rd of August 2023.
iii. The number of ballot papers that have been distributed to all polling stations and shall to that end, set out separately, the number of ballot papers distributed to each and every identified polling station including postal vote ballot papers.
2. Respondents shall in accordance with provisions of s52A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) ensure that the total number of ballot papers printed does not exceed, by more than 10%, the number of voters eligible to vote in the harmonised elections to be held on the 23rd of August 2023 and shall to that end:
i. Provide applicants with all the serial numbers by polling station, of the ballot papers to be distributed to each and every polling station.
ii. Provide applicants with the details of all postal ballot papers printed, their serial numbers as well as the manner in which they were distributed.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Drags ZEC To Court Over Ballot Papers

Self-exiled former ZANU PF Politburo member Jonathan Moyo says the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) violated the national constitution by printing and distributing the ballot papers for the local authority, parliamentary and presidential elections set for 23 August 2023.
In a post on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, Moyo said ZEC has failed to provide information on where and by whom the ballot papers for the election have been printed; and the total number of ballot papers that have been printed.
He argued that ZEC has also not provided political parties and candidates with information about the number of ballot papers that have been or will be distributed to each polling station. Wrote Moyo:
<blockquote>
ZEC HAS PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BALLOT PAPERS IN VIOLATION OF PEREMPTORY PROVISIONS OF THE ELECTORAL ACT IN BREACH OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE TO RENDER 2023 POLL NEITHER FREE NOR FAIR IN ADVANCE
With the evidence of copies of votes being illegally circulated on social media by some postal voters who voted today [see attachment], it is clear and of grave concern that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] has illegally and unconstitutionally printed and distributed the ballot papers for the local authority, parliamentary and presidential elections set for next week on 23 August.
Section 52A of the Act directs ZEC as follows:
(1) The Commission shall ensure that the number of ballot papers printed for any election does not exceed by more than ten per centum the number of registered voters eligible to vote in the election.
(2) The Commission shall without delay provide the following information to all political parties and candidates contesting an election, and to all observers—
(a) where and by whom the ballot papers for the election have been or are being printed; and
(b) the total number of ballot papers that have been printed for the election; and 
(c) the number of ballot papers that have been distributed to each polling station.
It is common cause that ZEC has not provided political parties and candidates contesting the 23 August election or election observers, information on where and by whom the ballot papers for the election have been printed; and the total number of ballot papers that have been printed for each of the three elections [local authority, parliamentary and presidential]; the total number of ballot papers that have been printed for the harmonised general election; and the number of ballot papers that have been or will be distributed to each polling station.
Section 52A(2) is peremptory, in that it does not give ZEC any discretion on the matter, it says the “the Commission shall, not may but shall, without delay provide the stipulated information on the printing of the ballot papers.
The fact that ZEC has printed the ballot papers in blatant violation of section 52A(2) is a gross illegality whose impact can only dent the integrity and credibility of the election to render it neither free nor fair in terms of sections 56(1) and 67(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe as read with section 239(a)(iv) whose constitutional imperative is that ZEC must ensure that:
…elections and referendums are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.
Ballot papers for the 2023 harmonised general election have been printed opaquely, secretly and in unknown quantities to make it impossible for the all-too-important political right to vote to be exercised freely and fairly!
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F3mOEVHXkAA-JHu?format=jpg&amp;name=4096x4096"/>
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Has Illegally Printed And Distributed Ballot Papers - Jonathan Moyo

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says the printing of ballot papers for the presidential election has commenced.
The process started after the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal on Friday by presidential aspirant Saviour Kasukuwere seeking to overturn a High Court ruling barring him from contesting the August 2023 election.
ZEC vice chairperson Rodney Kiwa told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/printing-of-presidential-ballot-papers-begins">The Sunday Mail</a> that the printing of presidential ballot papers has commenced. He said:
<blockquote>
We have no problem with the presidential ballot papers now that we have been cleared by the courts. We have started printing those ballot papers.
However, the current court cases relating to National Assembly candidates are impacting the printing of ballot papers.
</blockquote>
Kiwa, however, refused to state if ZEC had begun printing ballot papers for elections in National Assembly constituencies that have not been affected by court challenges.
He said the delays in finalising cases were hindering other election-related processes, such as postal voting. Said Kiwa:
<blockquote>
We have not yet distributed voting material to those taking part through postal voting.
We received applications and ZEC closed the receipt of applications.
Our challenge now is to send three ballot papers for the presidential, National Assembly and local authority elections to those who qualify for postal voting.
Although we are clear on the presidential ballot, we are not yet clear on the National Assembly.
</blockquote>
12 CCC parliamentary candidates in Bulawayo who were last week barred by the High Court from participating in the upcoming elections have appealed the ruling at the Supreme Court.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Printing Of Presidential Ballot Papers Commences - ZEC

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says the printing of ballot papers that will be used during the 23 August 2023 general elections has commenced.
ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/ballot-printing-on-course">The Sunday Mail</a> that the process is being delayed by election-related cases that are before the courts. He said:
<blockquote>
The process of printing ballot papers has started. However, a few hitches have been experienced owing to appeals before the courts arising from the June 21 nomination process and outcome.
</blockquote>
In one of the cases before the courts, CCC is suing 41 National Assembly and local authority candidates who filed nomination papers under the party’s name.
The party wants the candidates to be removed from the final list of candidates.
On Wednesday last week, United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) leader Elisabeth Valerio won her appeal against ZEC’s rejection of her nomination papers to run for the presidency.
Valerio’s name has since been added to the list of candidates contesting the presidential election.
Silaigwana said ZEC is close to finalising processing 18 013 applications for postal voting from members of the uniformed forces, as well as election officials.
Postal voting allows voters will be on official duty on election day to cast their votes ahead of polling day.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Commences Printing Of Ballot Papers

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it has procured 80 percent of essential election material for the 23 August 2023 general elections.
ZEC vice chairperson <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Rodney_Kiwa">Rodney Kiwa</a> told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/80pc-of-election-material-in-place/">The Herald </a>that they were hopeful that appeals against the rejection or acceptance of candidates’ papers in some constituencies which has delayed the the printing of ballot papers, will be settled soon. He said:
<blockquote>
Procurement of essential election material for the harmonised elections is at around 80 percent with the rest in progress.
Section 239(g) of the Constitution gives the Commission the mandate to design, print and distribute ballot papers, among other functions.
The Commission has commenced the exercise of designing the ballot papers for all contested National Assembly constituencies and local authority wards as well as the Presidential Ballot.
The drawback, however, as you may appreciate, is the designing of the ballot papers for those constituencies where an appeal has been lodged against the rejection or acceptance of a prospective candidate’s papers.
The Commission hopes that this legal challenge will be concluded soon to allow it to conclusively deal with the design thereof.
</blockquote>
Kiwa also said ZEC will disclose the names of where and who was printing the ballot papers, as well as the total number printed in due course. He said:
<blockquote>
Regarding the printing of ballot papers, the Commission will in due course and in line with provisions of Section 52A of the Electoral Act inform the general public and other stakeholders of where and by whom the ballot papers for the election are being printed as well as the total number of ballot papers that have been printed in respect of each election.
</blockquote>
ZEC will publish the final list of polling stations through the media, 21 days before polling day and on the day of the election, said Kiwa. He said:
<blockquote>
The final list of polling stations will be published in the press 21 days before polling and on Election Day.
These stations were established in terms of Section 51 of the Electoral Act, which provides that the Commission should establish polling stations at places it finds suitable and convenient to voters.
The law compels the Commission to establish adequate polling stations in each of the country’s 1 970 wards with each polling station being located at a place that is readily accessible to the public, including persons with physical disabilities.
</blockquote>
Kiwa said by the end of the day on Tuesday, 169 observers had been accredited with 145 of them being local observers and 24 local journalists.
He said international observers were yet to get accreditation.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Says 80 Percent Of Essential Election Material Has Been Procured

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it has been forced to delay the printing of ballot papers because of numerous pending court cases.
Addressing election observers in Harare early this week, ZEC deputy chairperson Rodney Simukai Kiwa said the court cases have put the elections management body under pressure to meet specified timelines to prepare for the 23 August 2023 elections. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2023-elections/article/200013935/poll-preps-face-major-hurdles">Kiwa said</a>:
<blockquote>
Now on the issue of the ballot paper designing and printing, section 239(G) of the Constitution gives the commission the mandate to design, print and distribute ballot papers among other functions.
The commission has commenced the exercises of designing ballot papers for all contesting National Assembly and local authority wards as well as the presidential ballot.
The drawback, however, as you may appreciate, is the designing of the ballot papers for those constituencies where an appeal has been lodged against the rejection and acceptance of a candidate’s papers.
We have to live with that until the court process has been done and completed. There is nothing we can do, but it puts a lot of pressure on us in terms of meeting the timelines.
So bear that in mind. Don’t ask us why this has not been done. It is a legal process and ZEC is bound to respect the law. We hope that the legal challenge is concluded as soon as possible.
</blockquote>
ZEC is a respondent in several court cases where political parties are querying the 21 June nomination process.
Presidential aspirants Linda Masarira and Elisabeth Valerio are not happy after their nomination papers were rejected for various reasons while Saviour Kasukuwere has approached the Supreme Court contesting the nullification of his candidature by the High Court.
CCC has filed an appeal at the Electoral Court against the nomination court’s decision to accept nomination papers for some candidates who reportedly forged signatures to submit their nomination forms under the opposition party.
ZANU PF has also challenged a decision by ZEC to accept nomination papers for opposition Bulawayo aspiring MPs after the 4 PM deadline on 21 June.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pending Court Cases Delay Printing Of Ballot Papers - ZEC

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly fired the ZANU PF director for administration, Dickson Dzora, for his alleged involvement in a ballot paper printing deal that partly contributed to chaotic internal elections held last month.
Dzora allegedly colluded with some party officials to corruptly engage a private company to print thousands of ballot papers for the party’s provincial polls held in December 2021.
Reports indicate that Dzora was sacked after the politburo meeting held on Saturday.
It is alleged that Dzora engaged a company called VGP Technologies, based at Engineering House along Rezende Street in Harare which in turn subcontracted Lightpress, to print the ballot papers.
Dzora was reportedly working with other senior party officials and employees, including one identified as Munyaradzi Katsande who was in the ICT department.
Katsande was reportedly fired after he allegedly misappropriated thousands of dollars from the party.
NewsDay reported sources as saying that ZANU PF secretary for security Lovemore Matuke detected the scam and engaged the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to investigate why the party subcontracted the work which was usually done by its printing arm, Jongwe Printers. Said a source:
<blockquote>
Such printing business is usually done by Jongwe Printers and it had already printed the ballot papers before Dzora approached VGP Technologies for the same.
His company of choice did not have the capacity and it subcontracted another company based in Graniteside called Lightpress for the job.
Investigations revealed personal interests and connivance at the party headquarters for them to benefit.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/01/ed-fires-party-chef-over-ballot-scandal/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Mnangagwa Sacks Party Chef Over Ballot Paper Scandal

In an interview with The Chronicle, Zec Commissioner in charge of public liaison Qhubani Moyo dismissed a picture of Zanu-PF aspiring candidate Tichaona Karimazondo loaded with alleged presidential ballot papers as fake.
Moyo said the picture is being circulated by people who are working against the progress and good work being done by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). Said Moyo:
<blockquote>This is being circulated by fake and alarmist individuals working against the progress and good work done by the electoral body.The commission is not transporting its ballot material using trucks. The commission transports ballot papers and security material in the presence of representatives of the contesting parties. The ballot papers have been distributed to constituencies and are being transported to polling stations in the presence of agents of all contesting parties who accompany the distribution.</blockquote>
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More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/zec-scoffs-at-ballot-paper-claims/">Chronicle</a>

ZEC Speaks On Picture Of Zanu-PF Car With Ballot Papers

MDC Alliance spokesperson Welshman Ncube has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) of cheating with ballot papers to ensure that President Emmerson Mnangagwa wins the July 30 elections. Ncube said that there would be no election unless the issue of ballot papers in resolved. Speaking at a rally in Matabeleland, Ncube said,
<blockquote>We are saying the ballot printed where we are not there will certainly not be used in the July 30 election, we are not saying we will boycott, but we say there will be no elections.
They have started cheating with the ballot. Even the greatest old vote rigger, Robert Mugabe used to follow the alphabet starting from the top downwards. The one for (Priscilla) Chigumba (Zec chairperson) she has started from number one to nine and went ahead to place Mnangagwa who is number 10 who is now at the top in the second column. If you subtract nine from 23 it’s equal to 14. If you want to make the ballot short, you cut it from halfway, you do not cut it at nine so that President Emmerson (Mnangagwa is at the top so that when one looks at the paper first sees his name when his surname starts with an M and is supposed to be at the bottom. They have started cheating and we are saying we will not allow that.</blockquote>
Also Read, <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/07/02/video-ballot-paper-has-been-designed-to-benefit-mnangagwa/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Video: “Ballot Paper Has Been Designed To Benefit Mnangagwa</a>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/07/no-ballot-deal-no-election-opposition/#" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewsDay</a>

They Have Started Cheating With The Ballot Papers: Welshman Ncube

Build Zimbabwe Alliance leader Noah Manyika has said that contrary to reports in state media, the tour to watch the printing of ballot papers did not go off as expected. Manyika echoed statements made by the MDC Alliance that the political parties were denied access to view the actual printing process.
We publish Manyika’s statement in full below:
<blockquote>STATEMENT BY DR. NOAH MANYIKA ON PARTY INSPECTION OF BALLOT PRINTING PAPER
On Friday, June 1, 2018, a member of our Executive Committee joined representatives of other political parties, ZEC and representatives from the EU at Fidelity Printers. The meeting started at 10:a.m. with the stated purpose being to allow the party representatives to:
– view the design of presidential ballot (from PC). 
– view the actual printing process to finish. 
– have a specimen copy of the actual ballot paper being used.
WHAT TRANSPIRED: 
* Party representatives toured the printing area which is heavily protected with glass all over and could only view the printing process from above and from about 10meters away.
* Party representative demanded to be allowed to enter the printing room to view the process at close range but entry was denied by a Mr Moyo (ZEC official). After a harsh exchange of words, there was no further touring and everyone returned to the original point of assembly where questions were being asked.
* Our representative was the last to speak with a suggestion and question. The suggestion was for two representatives to go into the printing room to retrieve at least 10 copies of what had been printed so the representatives could view the paper, serial numbers and type of fonts, and for security reasons tear-off the paper into four pieces and give each political party a specimen copy of the actual ballot. The question our representative asked was: ‘Who is denying party representatives entry into the printing room? Is it ZEC or FIDELITY PRINTERS?” Mr Moyo the ZEC official refused to respond to the question or to take up the suggestion and closed the meeting.
* According to our representative and contrary to reports published in the official press, the general sentiment of party representatives at that point was that the process was null and void and that none of the stated purposes of the tour had been accomplished.
Dr Noah Manyika — President July 5, 2018.</blockquote>

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