Low Voter Turnout Plagues Nkulumane By-Election Amidst Vote-Buying Allegations
A significant wave of voter apathy, particularly among the youth, marked the recent by-election in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane suburb, leading to a disappointingly low turnout. The election was necessitated by the untimely death of the incumbent legislator, Desire Moyo, in a tragic car accident in October. Nine candidates vied for the vacant parliamentary seat, including Esther Zitha, the widow of the late MP.
The ruling party, Zanu PF, mounted a robust campaign, deploying prominent figures such as presidential investment advisor Paul Tungwarara, national political commissar Munyaradzi Machacha, and several other ministers. Their presence aimed to galvanize support for the party’s candidate, Freedom Murechu, in the lead-up to the polls.
A Survey of Polling Stations Reveals Sparse Participation
A comprehensive survey conducted across 34 polling stations by The Standard painted a clear picture of low voter engagement. By 4 PM, a mere fraction of the registered electorate had cast their ballots. Notably, senior citizens constituted a substantial portion of those who did participate, with many requiring assistance to vote, often arriving with crutches.
Official Figures Highlight the Extent of Apathy
Sithembiso Khuphe, the Nkulumane constituency command officer, provided official figures at a media briefing that underscored the extent of the low turnout. As of 4 PM, only 3,992 votes had been cast out of a total of 22,883 registered voters. This represents a participation rate of approximately 17.4%. Of the votes cast, 2,410 were by males and 1,582 by females. Furthermore, 296 individuals were turned away from polling stations.
Khuphe elaborated on the reasons for these disqualifications. A significant number of individuals were not found on the official voters’ roll, meaning their names were not registered at that specific polling station. Others were unable to cast their ballots due to a lack of valid identification. This included voters presenting expired passports or defaced identity documents that could not be verified by election officials.
The sentiment of low turnout and voter disqualification was echoed by presiding officers at various polling stations. Siphetheni Moyo, the presiding officer for Ward 22, stated, “We are steadily progressing.” He confirmed, “Some voters have been turned away for not appearing on the voter’s roll.”
Despite the low numbers, the electoral process itself proceeded peacefully. Polling stations opened promptly at 7 AM across all 34 designated locations.
Observations from Individual Polling Stations
At Mabhukudwana Primary School polling station A, presiding officer Taurai Gavi reported a calm and orderly atmosphere. As of 10 AM, 50 voters had cast their ballots out of 685 registered voters at that station, comprising 14 males and 36 females. Two individuals were turned away for not being present on the voter’s roll. Notably, election agents from the MDC-T, EFF Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe African National Congress parties were absent from this station.
At the adjacent Station B, 55 out of 691 registered voters had cast their ballots by mid-morning. No individuals were turned away from this location.
At the Church of Nazarene polling station A, two voters were turned away. One presented a defaced ID, while the other attempted to vote using a photocopy of their identification.
At Mgombane Primary School in Ward 23, seven individuals were turned away in the morning, all for not being listed on the voters’ roll. Some voters at this location attempted to use driver’s licenses or expired passports as identification.
Allegations of Vote-Buying Cast a Shadow
Adding to the concerns surrounding the election, some voters and opposition candidates leveled accusations of vote-buying against Zanu PF. Allegations included the drilling of boreholes as a means to influence voters during the election period.
A Diverse Field of Contenders
The by-election featured a diverse slate of candidates vying for the parliamentary seat. The contenders included:
- Esther Zitha: The widow of the late MP.
- Freedom Murechu: The Zanu PF candidate.
- Mothusi “Madlela” Ndlovu: A comedian representing the Sengezo Tshabangu-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
- Ethel Sibanda: Representing the MDC T.
- Alson Moyo: Standing for EFF Zimbabwe.
- Vivian Siziba: The Zapu candidate.
- Nompilo Ncube Malala: Contesting under the ZANC ticket.
- Rodney Donovan Jele: An independent candidate.
- Fuzwayo: An independent candidate and secretary-general of Ibhetshu LikaZulu.
Electoral Context: Previous Results
In the 2023 general elections, over 13,000 votes were cast for the parliamentary seat in Nkulumane. The late MP, representing the CCC, secured a significant victory with 9,880 votes. The runner-up, Freedom Murechu, garnered 2,402 votes. The current by-election results will be closely watched to see if voter sentiment has shifted significantly.
