A NUMBER of expectant voters failed to cast their votes in yesterday's by-election in Bulawayo's Nkulumane suburb where there was massive voter apathy, especially among the youth amid claims of vote-buying.
The seat fell vacant following the death of sitting legislator Desire Moyo in a car accident in October.
Nine candidates contested the seat including the widow of the late Member of Parliament (MP) Esther Zitha.
Zanu PF heavily deployed its campaign machinery ahead of election, with presidential investment advisor Paul Tungwarara and national political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha and other ministers featuring in the run-up to the polls to drum up support for the party’s candidate Freedom Murechu.
A survey conducted across 34 polling stations by The Standard revealed a low voter turnout, with senior citizens constituting a significant portion of those who cast their ballots by 4PM.
Many were observed entering stations with crutches to receive assistance in voting.
Speaking at a media briefing, Nkulumane constituency command officer, Sithembiso Khuphe, said that as of 4 PM, only 3 992 votes had been cast out of 22 883 registered voters.
"Of these, 2,410 are males, while 1,582 are females. A further 296 individuals were turned away," Khuphe said.
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Khuphe detailed several reasons for these disqualifications, noting that many individuals were not found on the official voters' roll.
Others were unable to participate because they lacked valid identification, with some presenting expired passports or defaced IDs that could not be accepted for verification.
Ward 22 presiding officer, Siphetheni Moyo, echoed similar sentiments.
"We are steadily progressing," Moyo said.
"Some voters have been turned away for not appearing on the voter's roll."
Voting, however, proceeded peacefully with polling stations opening at 7am across all 34 locations.
At Mabhukudwana primary school polling station A, presiding fficer Taurai Gavi reported a peaceful atmosphere.
"There are 685 total registered voters and as at 10 am, 50 voters had cast their votes, including 14 males and 36 females," he said.
"Two individuals were turned away for not being on the roll, and election agents from the MDC-T, EFF Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe African National Congress parties were absent."
At the adjacent Station B, 55 of 691 registered voters had cast their ballots by mid-morning, with no people being turned away.
At the Church of Nazarene polling station A, two people were turned away—one for a defaced ID and another for presenting a photocopy.
At Mgombane Primary School in Ward 23, seven individuals were turned away in the morning, for not being on the voters' roll, though others presented a driver's licence and an expired passport.
Some voters and opposition candidates accused Zanu PF of vote-buying against, alleging the drilling of boreholes during the election period.
Candidates contesting the election include Zitha, Murechu, comedian Mothusi "Madlela" Ndlovu representing the Sengezo Tshabangu-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Ethel Sibanda (MDC T), Alson Moyo (EFF Zimbabwe) and Vivian Siziba, (Zapu) while Nompilo Ncube Malala was contesting under the ZANC ticket.
There are two independent candidates Rodney Donovan Jele and Fuzwayo, the secretary-general of Ibhetshu LikaZulu.
Over 13000 vvotes were cast for the parliamentary seat in the 2023 elections.
The late MP representing the CCC got 9 880 votes while the runner-up Murechu got 2 402 votes.
