THE PROVINCIAL ELECTORAL DIRECTORATE MASHONALAND CENTRAL PROVINCE
BINDURA

30/12/2021

RE: GROSS IRREGULARITIES IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS HELD ON 28/12/2021: RECOMMANDATION FOR A RE-RUN

We write to you in connection with the recently held ZANU PF Provincial Elections in
Mashonaland Central Province.

There is a serious outcry over the way the elections were conducted and the clear evidence of rigging which renders the results not a reflection of the wishes of the people of Mash Central.

This will most likely pose serious challenges for the new administration to effectively unite the and run the province most effectively, a challenge the outgoing administration has perennially encountered. More so as we edge towards 2023 with our 5-million vote vision.

Amongst issues of grave concern are the following.
Election Officers were seriously compromised resulting in many of them disregarding the rules of conduct set by the party. For example, campaign agents of candidates were allowed to distribute voting material on their own resulting in ballot papers missing especially in Mt Darwin, Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve.

Some candidates, especially those in the DCC’s, were allowed to run elections in direct
violation of the election rules and regulations. This was more rampant in Mbire and Guruve
where these interested candidates influenced the direction of elections in favour of their
preferred outcomes. Some candidates’ names were not appearing at some polling stations
suggesting a deliberate strategy to exclude them from contesting.

These unruly and conflicted ‘officials’ barred other candidates’ election agents from entering the polling stations. The clear intention was to ensure they could not witness what was taking place inside the stations where processes were being manipulated.

The barring of agents from accessing the polling stations resulting in many results sheets not being signed as required by the regulations.

Vote-buying and intimidation was rife at some polling stations especially in Mbire and Guruve and this contributed to eligible voters not being able to cast their votes. Despite most eligible voters failing to vote, the results sheets reflected a massive turnout which is clear evidence that the election process was seriously manipulated.

There is irrefutable evidence that some ballot papers in Muzarabani and Mbire, were taken
home overnight and only brought to the centres the following morning. These papers were
being worked on overnight to ensure a preferred outcome.

In Mbire, ballot papers were only delivered at midnight on the election day long after the voting period had expired. Most voters had already gone home without voting but the manipulated papers reflected a massive turnout.

Voting also continued on 29/12/2021 up to around 1000hrs without polling agents or police as required. No voters’ roll was used as these rogue officials sought assistance from their rigging teams to fill-in voting slips.

The deliberate lack of the presence of the police in most districts, particularly Mt Darwin,
Muzarabani, Mbire and Guruve opened the whole process to manipulation by uncouth and
abusive officials resulting in wrong results being sent to the command centre.

There is evidence of connivance between district centre officials and counterparts at the
Provincial Centre. Reports already abound, implicating senior members of the Provincial
Centre in manipulation of the voting process for the benefit of ‘partners in crime’.

The Provincial Director in particular, behaved very suspiciously when results started trickling in and started chasing away people from the centre including barring security officers (CIO, MID and PISI) from entering the centre.

This is clear proof that this official had issues to hide from the system which by nature should be very transparent. He barred security officials from accessing data on the election results. It later turned out that data submitted from the district centres was completely different from that inputted at the Provincial Command Centre.

This triggered an outcry and serious claims of corruption and rigging from all corners against these district and provincial officials.

Observations

It is our observation that the election results from this heavily compromised and manipulated process does not reflect the wishes of the electorate. This is the kind of behaviour that causes endless intractable conflicts in the party which unavoidably ends up affecting national elections.

An election is a sacrosanct process that is supposed to culminate in the voice of the
majority. That a few power-hungry people with narrow interests are allowed to replace the true wishes of the electorate is a very dangerous proposition that threatens the credibility of the whole electoral system and reflects badly on party leadership. ZANU PF is the only true custodian of the people’s democracy in this country and therefore we must be seen to be living the values that we espouse. T

his kind of vote manipulation should never be tolerated if we are to retain credibility as the true custodians of democracy and progressive values. The level of manipulation, intimidation, corruption, system abuse and lack of transparency destroys the
credibility of these elections and obviously deprives the electorate of free expression of theirwill.

RECOMMENDATION.
Considering the foregoing, and in the interest of protecting the people’s voice, we hereby
strongly recommend that these elections be re-run especially in the most affected districts like Guruve and Mbire.

Ignoring this level of system abuse will have a negative impact on future elections. Our people will obviously shun elections as they perceive the processes to be worthless. We will suffer voter apathy that can impact even on national elections and obviously hamper our efforts to garner a minimum of 5 million votes for 2023.

Already this is coming on top of perennial disgruntlements over the way the current administration has been doing business that resulted in failure to unite our people and rally them behind the party leadership.

In any case, how do we hope to successfully run this province under these circumstances? Its always much easier to lead people who respect us than to force people to respect us.

We pray that our observations and recommendation will be given due consideration.

Signed
A G MUTASA (077286383) S PARERENYATWA (0772949094)
PSG MASH CENTRAL CHAIRMAN MASH CENTRAL
CC War Veterans National Chairman