In a well coordinated election rigging strategy, ZANU PF registered at least ten thousand voters for the Nkulumane by election just in case opposition parties came out strong to wrestle the seat.
Very reliable sources within the party in Bulawayo revealed that the ruling party had prepared thoroughly for the seat and were under instructions to win it at all cost. The sources who were celebrating the party victory at a hotel in the outskirts of Bulawayo revealed the information in a bar chat unaware of the presence of the ZimEye.com Correspondent.
 
According to the sources ZANU PF registered an unbelievable 10 000 voters in the run up to the by election in what they called a 500 people per cell system.
 
The huge Nkulumane constituency is said to have been divided into twenty cells of which each unit was mandated to register 500 voters in the November polling station based voter registration exercise.
 
To achieve the 500 people per cell, each was ordered to have 10 sub leaders who each registered 50 people and provided evidence of the 50 registered voters. At the time of the voter registration exercise some opposition parties complained of a huge number of people who were being bussed in from neighbouring constituencies perhaps to meet the numbers.
 
According to information released by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network ZESN and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ZEC, 13 331 people registered to vote in the new voters roll during the November 2015 voter registration exercise for the Nkulumane by election. In the 2013 elections 20 787 voters were registered in the constituency.
 
The sources claim that the party system put in ten cells with 5 000 voters ready for the Nkulumane election with another 5000 on stand by in case there was a sudden influx of opposition voters. As a result of the low turnout for the by election the sources claim that only their top four trusted cells were released for the vote.
 
The voting exercise in Nkulumane was marred by a massive voter apathy which saw some polling stations going for hours with no voters coming through before a group of about ten people would systematically march in and cast their votes.
The sources claimed that the election directorate in the constituency efficiently coordinated the process. True to their word about three unmarked but well-known ZANU PF Ford Ranger vehicles were seen patrolling the constituency throughout the voting period.
ZANU PF won the Nkulumane by election polling 2161 votes against 680 for the Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe PDZ.
Commenting, PDZ leader Barbara Nyagomo told ZimEye.com she is convinced the polls were rigged, “yes we are aware that prople were bussed into Nkulumane to vote,” she said.
 
She added, “at around 1am polling Agents were chased from the Command Centre kwaiverengwa maVotes. I believe our candidate Ngwalo Nyathi won these elections.”
Nyagomo blamed ZANU PF for what she said is an attack on democracy, “its an attack on democracy and a total disrespect of the wishes of people in Nkulumane and Zimbabwe, the depth of disregard and desperation ZANU PF to the length it would go to cling to power and temporarily abort people’s wishes.
“PDZ will not rest until there is electoral reform, respect and dignity for true and representative democracy not only in Nkulumane but Zimbabwe as a whole.”