1 zimbabwe election support network [zesn] - Nehanda Radio

Various statements were subsequently made by politicians and members of ZANU PF,
including Patrick Chinamasa and Emmerson Mnangagwa, alleging that ZESN is a pro-MDC
organization and was used by to bribe ZEC officials during the 29 March 2008 harmonized
elections as well as campaigning for the opposition under the guise of voter education,
allegations vehemently rejected by ZESN as unfounded and bent on discrediting and
intimidating ZESN. ZESN links these attacks to the announcement of projections of the
presidential election results on 31 March 2008 projecting that Morgan Tsvangirai securing more
votes than Robert Mugabe, although ZEC’s presidential results fall within ZESN’S projected
percentages and margins of error.
On 17 April 2008, the home of ZESN observer in Chahwanda area in Mt Darwin was allegedly
torched by a known ex-officer of Kasoso village while a vehicle belonging to ZESN was
reportedly confiscated by ZANU PF supporters at Kotwa centre on 13 May 2008. The vehicle, a
Toyota land cruiser had been deployed by ZESN to go and rescue three of its observers who
had been seriously beaten by suspected ZANU PF supporters and needed urgent assistance.
By the time of the run- off, one death recorded of ZESN observer Elliot Machipisisa of
Hurungwe, 74 ZESN observers had moved in with relatives, 113 had been displaced and had
sought and got assistance in Harare, 12 had been assaulted, 16 had their homes burnt, 4 had
their property damaged while 71 were reported harassed and intimidated.
Use of State Resources
Use of state resources for campaigning purposes was reportedly widespread. GMB played an
active role in ZANU PF campaigns. The distribution of maize from GMB and farm implements
was increased giving unfair advantage to the incumbent as distribution was generally done at
ruling party rallies. Government vehicles and other facilities were also used by ZANU PF to
campaign while the same privilege was not awarded to the MDC, further making the electoral
terrain very uneven.
Voter and Civic Education
In contrast to the run up to the 29 March election there was no active voter and civic education
weeks after the announcement of the un-off date. ZEC is mandated with the provision of voter
education and determines who can provide voter education. There was need to educate people
on what was happening, why there was need for a second round of presidential elections.
Voter and civic education are critical if the electorate were to make informed choices and hence
should be taken seriously.
A number of questions have remained unanswered because of the absence of voter education.
Particularly in need of explanation were how the procedures for the run-off differed from those
of the 29 March election, whether there was going to be a new voters’ roll, whether voters who
had initially registered for the 29 March election were the only one to vote in the run-off,
whether voting was to be ward- based or national, whether votes were to be counted at polling
stations immediately after the closing of the poll and the results posted outside polling stations
for public information [using form V.11]. For instance, the public only got to know very late that
the procedures governing the two elections were the same, and that only registered voters
were eligible to vote, that voting was ward based.
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