Story by Fungai Jachi
ALL logistical arrangements are in place for this Saturday’s by-elections in the Glenview South Constituency and Rushinga Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 19, with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) urging registered voters to come out in their numbers and exercise their right to vote.
In a media briefing held at ZEC headquarters in Harare on Friday, ZEC Vice Chairperson, Mr Rodney Kiwa, assured the nation that the electoral body is fully prepared for the two by-elections.
“Our preparations are also in terms of election material as well as human resources and I can confirm that the material and human resources are now in place and ready for the elections tomorrow,” he said.
“There is a voter population of 31 519 in Glenview South and we printed 33 700 ballot papers. In Rushinga there is a total of 1 578 registered voters with 1 700 ballot papers having been printed. There are 43 polling stations in Glen View South with four polling stations in Rushinga RDC ward 19.”
He added that accreditation of observers and the media is still underway while encouraging candidates and stakeholders to observe electoral laws.
“Accreditation is still ongoing until Saturday. It is important for candidates and stakeholders to respect the law. There is a code of conduct which guides how elections are done and for a peaceful election, the law should be upheld,” Mr Kiwa said
The ballots were printed by the Printing and Minting Company of Zimbabwe.
The parliamentary seat in Glenview South fell vacant following the death of legislator Gladmore Hakata, while the Rushinga RDC ward 19 by-election was necessitated by the death of Councillor Howard Machipisa.
Five candidates will battle it out for the Glenview South Constituency seat, with two candidates vying for the Rushinga RDC Ward 19 seat.
