Election Bulletin Issue 18
Sunday 5 August 2018
ZEC, Security Agencies victimizing Our Polling Agents and Tempering with evidence
The MDC has learnt of victimization of its polling agents around the country following the announcing of sham results by ZEC as a way to manipulate and destroy evidence.
We have received numerous calls from our agents saying they have been re- called by ZEC to sign new V11 forms, as the ones they had are said to have errors.
Some have been offered cash in excess of $2000 to make the amendments.
One of our agents in Marondera who refused the offer was abducted and his whereabouts have become a mystery, as he has not been seen since Thursday.
In Shurugwi South, at Rusununguko High Polling Station, our agents were called back by ZEC because the electoral body wanted to open some ballot boxes to check for “locked in” protocol registers.
In Makoni West, ward 39, at St Bedes and Madzingidzi polling stations, our polling agents were threatened and bullied into signing new V11 forms after 6 ballot boxes were re- opened.
In Zhombe, all presiding officers at the 62 polling stations were called for a meeting in which they were instructed to amend all the V11 forms as well as adding 60 more assisted voters on their assisted voter’s lists for all the polling stations. To make matters worse, these presiding officers are forging our agent’s signatures.
Gokwe North has reported similar tactics by ZEC. Our Chief election agent got unwelcome visitors from soldiers earlier today who wanted to search her house, but she stood her ground that they could only do so in the presence of a search warrant which they didn’t have. She has since relocated for fear of their return in the night.
The worrying trend continues throughout the country.
In Redcliff, the constituency election agent named Chakauya, has called in our polling agents saying they needed to fix the protocol registers inside the ballot boxes.
Our polling Agents in Nkayi North have also been summoned for a meeting with ZEC. To “sort some things” around the V11 forms.
This is just a cursory feel of what ZEC is doing in order to legitimize the stolen election result they announced a few days ago.
In other areas, MDC Alliance polling Agents in Muzarabani South are now living in hiding since they are being hunted by Zanu PF officials day and night.
These officials are knocking the doors of local government candidates and their agents who represented MDC Alliance on the 30 of July 2018.
Meanwhile soldiers have spread a blanket of terror over residential and rural areas
Over 2 500 soldiers were deployed in all the high density suburbs of Harare including Epworth, Chitungwiza, Glen View Kuwadzana, Glen Norah and Dzivarasekwa and have been thrashing people every night.
State security operatives have also been deployed countrywide to instill fear in the people and stifle dissent.
Soldiers last night assaulted Highfield residents in a bid to get information on the whereabouts of the MDC Alliance Youth Leader Happymore Chidziva.
They visited the household where Hon Chidziva was once a tenant over 8 years ago and assaulted people who did not even know who Chidziva was.
The visibly shaken victims said they feared for their lives.
This brazen attack on citizens has continued since the senseless murder of innocent by standers by soldiers on Tuesday. This is bringing echoes of 2008 and we ask that this be stopped forthwith.