By Revesai Mavetera
One Zimbabwean data scientist, Freeman Chari, and his team at CredibleVote have just announced that, according to the v11 forms they received through their WhatsApp platform, the votes received by Nelson Chamisa have surpassed the number announced by ZEC.
With 502 polling stations left, Nelson Chamisa’s votes have already exceeded 1,967,343, which is the official number of votes as announced by ZEC.
This makes it clear that ZEC did not do its best in scrutinizing the figures. If they were accurate, how is it possible that more than 500 polling stations are unaccounted for?
The election was discredited and condemned by SADC observer missions, among other observers.
The pre-election period was characterized by violence; many CCC members and supporters were injured, some were jailed, and several were murdered. The most recent case is that of Tinashe Chitsunge, who was stoned to death in Harare.
Several opposition members were arrested, including two candidates: Honorable Grandmore Hakata, a member of parliament in the Glenview South constituency, and Councillor Alice Tsingano, who was contesting in ward 5 of the Seke constituency. Alice Tsingano is still in remand prison.
During the election, there was a delay and unavailability of ballot papers in many urban constituencies. One CCC leader, Takudzwa Ngadziore, said, ‘While we waited for the Ballot Paper here in Harare, in Manicaland they were also waiting. The only difference is what they were being told, “Ballot Paper ririmunzira kubva kuHarare” (The ballot papers are on their way from Harare). Mbavha idzi! (These thieves!)’
This is believed to have caused a lot of voter apathy in opposition strongholds.
Not forgetting the popular FAZ – Forever Associates of Zimbabwe – this shadowy group disguised as an NGO has caused untold suffering before and during the election.
There are many cases where opposition leaders and supporters who confronted officials from this organization from different parts of the country were arrested and given harsh sentences. Most of those arrested are yet to have their day before the judge.
The organization’s members were also moving around the communities, village by village, going door to door and threatening CCC supporters with death. In some cases, they were beating CCC supporters.
On the election date, this shadowy group set up tables near every polling station to record names of people going to the polling stations. Many videos circulating online show people queuing to have their names noted before proceeding to the polling station.
Although CCC and other independent candidates tried to disband these tables, to a greater extent, the operations helped ZanuPF.
Local observers ZESN and ERC had their offices raided, equipment confiscated, and workers arrested by the Zimbabwe police during the night of 24 August.
