Thread by @citezw

CITE will be covering the by-elections in Bulilima today. There are 3 selections in Bulilima today. Ward 1, 14 and 16. #Asakhe

Three vacancies arose in Bulilima (Ward 1, 14 and 16) following the resignation of two ZANU-PF councillors, Tonny Mlotshwa and Ntungamili Dube and the death of Delani Mabhena, who also belonged to the ruling party.

Aspiring candidates participating in the by-elections are from the ruling ZANU-PF and opposition parties the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and ZAPU.

#Asakhe

Scenes from Sheila Farm Tent Polling Station in Ward 1 in the morning for the Bulilima East by-elections. #Asakhe

CCC candidate for Ward 1, Ephraim Moyo casts his vote at Sikhathini Clinic in the by-elections underway in Bulilima East. #Asakhe

CCC candidate for Ward 1 Ephraim Moyo in the Bulilima East by-elections expresses confidence in winning the polls saying people are now tired of riding the same Zanu PF horse for the past 42 years. #Asakhe

A voter receiving assistance at Nyabane Primary School polling station at Ward 1 in Bulilima East. The presiding officer, said the voter requested assistance to cast her vote in the ‘correct slot’ on the ballot paper, as she couldn’t write. #Asakhe

Sights in Ward 1 Bulilima East where voting in the By-elections is underway.

There are four polling stations in Ward 1 in Bulilima East for the September 3 by-elections:
Sheila Farm Tent
Sikhathini High
Sikhathini Clinic
Nyabane Primary.
#Asakhe

There are four candidates for the Council Ward 1 seat
Zanu PF- Kossam Phapha Ndlovu
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) - Ephraim Moyo
People’s Patriotic Party (PPP) - Dalton Moyo
Constitutional Generation for Change (CGC) - Lingiwe Nyoni.

Ward 1 presiding officers said the numbers in the morning were quite low. Nyabane Primary Polling Station, by 8.30AM had 31 voters.
4 people were turned away as their names were not in the voters roll, having registered after the cut off date of March 16, 2022. #Asakhe

In Ward 16 at Mathambo Primary school polling station 4 people had voted by 7.30AM (1 male and 3 female) . 1 was turned away as their name was not appearing on the voter's roll.

Ward 16: At Mbwenda pri school polling station, as at 8.00AM 20 females and 11 males had voted. There was 1 assisted voter due to old age. #Asakhe

Update: Ward 1 Bulilima East by elections:
As the Day progresses, the number of voters has increased, with presiding officers at the 4 polling stations in Ward 1 describing the turnout as ‘good.’

At 10am Sheila Farm Tent Polling Station had seen 88 voters ( 23 males and 65 females)
Four people had been turned away for not appearing on voters roll, that is registered after the cut off March 16, 2022 date
12 voters were assisted to vote.

Reasons were most were illiterate, others were blind while one case wanted to be assisted as they were elderly.

At Sikhathini High Polling Station, 90 had voted by 10am (22 males and 68 females.
Four were turned away as they were totally not registered to vote.

Four were assisted to vote ( three females and one male) reasons were illiteracy and one was blind. The presiding officer Nomagugu Nyathi said the turnout was “very good”

At Sikhathini Clinic Polling Station, by 11.30am 102 people have voted ( 55 females and 47 males).

Nine were turned away as their names were not on the voters roll.
Five were assisted to vote as they were illiterate.

At Nyabane Primary Polling Station by 11.45am 148 people had voted so far. ( 26 males and 122 females.)

11 people ( nine females and two males ) were assisted to vote - reasons cited were illiteracy and others were both blind and illiterate.

12 people were turned away ( nine females and three males) as some registered after the March 16, 2022 cut off date, others were not on the voters roll and remaining had no national identity cards -IDs

Sights at Sikhathini Clinic Polling Station at Ward 1 In Bulilima- East

An elderly woman seen casting her vote at Sikhathini Clinic Polling Station
#Asakhe

Two men checking for their names at the Voters Roll displayed outside Nyabane Primary School Polling Station
#Asakhe

Ward 14: nswazwi pri school polling station, 66 people had voted (51 females and 15 male) . 5 assisted voters (illiterate) 4 turned away (3 not registered n 1 had an issue with ID) #Asakhe

Ward 14: Malalume secondary school by 2pm 294 people have voted (218 females and 76 males). 29 turned away (12 males and 17 females). 34 assisted (10males and 24 females). #Asakhe

This is at Sikhathini Clinic Polling Station

#Asakhe #BulilimaByElections

A man says the voting process has been smooth - as villagers they did see the political parties campaigning and are now waiting for the results, hoping there will be no noise then

Two young women from Malisakwana Village giving their insight on the Ward 1 by-elections in Bulilima East

#Asakhe #BulilimaByElections

ward14: Malopa Dam primary school. As at 2pm 114 voters had voted (30 males and 84 females). 15 turned away (5 males and 10 females). 7 female assisted voters.

CITE journalist @lulubrendafarqh searching for a cellphone signal at Sikhathini Clinic in Ward 1. The slab she is standing on is where clinic staffers use on a daily basis .

Today the spot is also serving officials present for the by-elections in Bulilima East are using to search for a connection to communicate. There is poor network connection in the area.

Ward 14: Mafeha pri school as at 3pm 130 had voted (35 males, 95 females). 26 assisted (5 males and 21 females) 4 turned away (not registered). #Asakhe

Ward 14: nswazwi pri school as at 3pm 160 people had voted (37 male and 123 female). 16 turned away (3 males and 13 females) 8 assisted (1 male and 7 females).

Ward 14: village 18 tent, as at 4pm 50 (13 males and 37 females) people had voted. 6 were assisted ( 3 males and 3 females) and 4 were turned away (2 males and 2 females)

Ward 14: Mbwenda pri school as at 4pm 102 people had voted (38 males and 64 females). 5 were assisted (2 males and 3 females). 4 redirected (3 females and 1 male).

BULILIMA BYELECTIONS Update: As of 15.55 at Sheila Farm Tent, 142 people had voted (43 male and 99 female).11 were turned away (four male and seven female) reasons ranged from not registered, late registration while some assumed they can vote since they voted years ago.
#Asakhe

15 were assisted with voting ( five males and 10 females) dominant reason being illiteracy.
After lunch attendance dropped. It was observed there were more middle aged voters (50-60 age range)
For lighting, Sheila Farm Tent polling station has two gas lamps and a torch

#Asakhe

At Sikhathini Clinic: By 6pm, 150 people had voted.
Six were assisted ( two males and four females). All were illiterate.
15 were turned away - reasons included some not registered in Ward 1 and others “thought since this was a prePlumtree area they could vote”

Six people (three males and three females were all redirected to Sikhathini High polling station
It was observed the youth were “not responding to electoral processes” as more elderly people voted.

A challenge noted by the presiding officer Abigail Nyathi was a concern raised by their Chief Election Officer who noted voters were skeptical of the Covid-19 register book,

Which they had to leave their names, thinking that it could be used to trace them yet the register was for contact tracing in case there was a Covid-19 case.

Time 7pm and the presiding officer closed the Sikhathini High polling station after seeing no one wanting to vote.

#Asakhe #BulilimaByElections

Nyabane Primary Polling Station by 6pm had the highest number of votes at 239 (182 females and 57 males.)
26 voters were assisted to vote (21 females and five males). Dominant reason was illiteracy and others were visiually impaired.

23 were turned away ( 13 female and 10 males) as some registered after the March 16 cut off date others were totally not on the voters roll.
One person was redirected to Skhathini Clinic.

The majority of voters were the middle aged group (49 years going up) while very few youths were seen.

CITE overheard a discussion at Nyabane Primary Polling Station concerning the use of the Covid-19 register where voters left their names and details, with elections agents saying voters were unsure of its use,

Although it was indicated that it would come in handy for contact tracing should a Covid-19 case occur.

At Sikhathini High by 6pm, a total of 189 had voted. (135 females and 54 males). 19 were turned away ( eight males and 11 females) reasons : most not registered, some registered after the March 16 cut off date and one came with an expired passport.

11 people were assisted ( nine females and two males) citing they were illiterate 10 people (three females and seven males )were redirected to other polling stations in Ward 1 which were Sheila Farm Tent and Sikhathini Clinic.