Despite challenges with text messaging via international gateways, Kubatana continues to receive on-the-ground feedback and reports from our subscribers across the country ahead of Zimbabwe’s Harmonised Election 31 July. Read some of their comments below. You can get more citizen feedback here, here and here.

• Sanctions off first then we can have free & fair elections
• Mugabe gave Chombo a directive to scrap off the bills as party of his campaign, Grace confirmed this at a rally but this time Zanu will not go away with it.
• PTUZ Masvingo provincial chair investigating suspected deliberate omission of its members on recruitment of polling officers.
• Let whole world know that all civil servants who’ve been engaged by ZEC during 31 July Election & unfortunately deployed outside their wards shall be technically deprived of their right to vote. Remember they missed out Special Vote so who will decide 4 them? This is not fare please let it be corrected.
• CIO disturbing JOMIC observer workshop in Concession
• I would like to say rest in peace to Chiwoniso Maraire. She was a mbira guru. The void she has left in the musical circles is very difficult to fill.
• Zanu PF irikufamba mudzimba vachinyora mazita evanhu vakaregister kuvhota (Zanu PF is going door-to-door taking down names of people who have registered to vote). This is in Glendale Mazowe
• Zanu PF youths are terrorising vendors at Budiriro 1 shops
• Tiri kumandikidzwa kuenda kumapungwe kuno kumazowe south (Here in Mazowe South we’re being forced to go to all night rallies)
• I think Zimbabweans this is the only opportunity we have get to change the leaders. They force us to do things we don’t want
• If anybody has cheated the elections by any chance their party must be disqualified otherwise voting will be violating our rights as citizens.
• Shamva road from Bindura they have not finished constructing this road, its been years.
• Wad 7 rural in Chipinge has Zanu PF youth beating MDC-T. Activities, pulling MDC-T posters
• In Makonde a Zanu-PF youth known as Machaya at Godzi is removing MDC posters and once threatened a certain boy saying he should surrender MDC t/shirt to him
• Chombo yesterday promised Zanu supporters he has 300 stands to allocate them at a rally in white cliff
• Being in power for 33 years but as a president he cant even address his so called supporters in their language Ndebele what’s wrong?
• This unity did not make it up because Zanu pf is full of cheaters. How can new voters roll leak to the ward. I saw my name in a new ward voter’s roll
• Minister Biti & MDC-T party, do u still remember +3000 Zimpost & Telone workers who were dismissed in 2004 by Zanu-PF government which claimed we wanted a regime change in favour of MDC. You promised to look into this issue but until now we haven’t been paid any
• Vanhu vezanu varikufamba muBudiriro 5 door by door vachitsvaga vanhu vakaregesterea muBudiriro. Kana vavuwana varikuda zita neID number. (People from Zanu are going door-to-door in Budiriro 5, looking for people who have registered to vote. When they find them, they are asking for their names and ID numbers).
• As we speak we do not have a good enough candidate to be a president all of them are words.
• Especially in Hurungwe what we need now is ROADS kwaChief MJinga these cars don’t last a season
• I believe going about lying, verbally abusing opponents and exploiting people’s fears should all amount to voter cheating and rigging. We all vote in pursuit for better lives. We want, especially, Zanu PF to tell the electorate what miracles can they achieve in 5 years which they couldn’t in 33 years. Its not about MDCs or and parties. We want a better Zim which we can all be proud of. We are tired of poverty and idleness. MDC T just happens to be the only other choice. In life the only thing that brings hope is change. I’m in Chitungwiza
• Pane murume anozviti Doglous Kwiri anozvidaidza nerekuti comrade masango.he is intimidating MDC Members in Mvuma, zimbabwe especially muradzikwa tinashe and paul Banda mayouths eMDC T. Yesterday akadambura maposters eMDC.achiti lam above the law. Hanzi even Mugabe knows that. we have not reported the case  to the police because he threatened these two youths with a gun saying by the end of this month they will be dead or disappeared. Many people are afraid of this holigan. I urge Zimbabwe to have peace. (There is a guy named Douglas Kwiri he calls himself comrade Masango. He is intimidating MDC members in Mvuma, Zimbabwe especially Muradzikwa Tinashe and Paul Banda, youths of the MDC-T. Yesterday he removed MDC posters bragging he is above the law and that even Mugabe knows that. We have not reported the matter to the police because he threatened these two youths with a gun saying by the end of this month they will be dead or will disappear. Many people are afraid of this hooligan. I urge Zimbabweans to have peace)
• We all know Zanu PF thugs are burning the midnight oil every day to come up with ways to rig the elections. I encourage all Zimbabweans to go out in massive to vote them out.
• Please zuro chaiye Comrade Masango vakadambura maposters e Mdc t.he resides pa athens mine compound.ane pfuti yaari kutyityidzira vanhu nayo (Yesterday comrade Masango removed MDC posters. He resides at Athens mine compound. He is using a gun to intimidate people)
• Ndanga ndiri kwaZvimba nhasi apo mudhara anga aine rally havasi vanhu vanga aripo ndazobvunzawo kuti mose muri kutsigira bato here ndasekwa zvisingaiti , mumwe ndiye azonditi ‘ Tauya kuzooneka mudhara ‘ (I was in Zvimba today where Mugabe was having a rally. I asked all the people who had gathered if they were really supporting Zanu and they laughed at me. One told me that he was there to bid farewell to Mugabe)
• Here in Gweru I know this guy who z a headmaster 4rm a certain school managed to get a piece of land although he is not a war vet or vocal Zanu-PF supporter. However, to a greater extent those who are not clever enough or did not have connections everywhere were unable to get the land. All in all only well known Zanu supporters, war vets and senior police and army officers managed to get farms  according to my view right here in Gweru
• Ask Zaka Central outgoing MP Harrison Mudzuri why he never did anything for Chinyaradza Secondary School with CDF yet he is a former student and passes by the school in his red Isuzu regularly.
• Mhondoro Mubaira people are being harassed if you are found that you are not a Zanu PF member!
• Pamberi neku winner A new Zimbabwe means TSVANGIRAI in Office, Mushohwe is wasting time, MUTARE WEST STRONG HOLD 4 MDC-T
• Three days ago I was chased by Zanu-PF district chairman at e meeting held at Chikundu growth point being accused to be a suspected MDC-T supporter name of chair Shadreck Mutichakwa
• MP 4 Zaka West Dumbu Festus has drilled boreholes but the project was left unfinished, some boreholes have no pipe and not assembled

Today’s Herald announces “Govt secures poll funding.” Given that elections are in less than a week, that’s lucky I suppose. The article says “domestic resources mobilised,” and mentions “US $ 85 million released.” Phew. I knew all that diamond money would come in handy someday.

Meanwhile, the late access to election funding is just one more way in which this election is a mess before we’ve even voted. And yet shockingly, the African Union looks and says “Nothing gives us any cause for concern.”

There are 5 days till Zimbabwe’s Harmonised Election on 31 July 2013. And Nothing gives any cause for concern? Not:

• The fact that the election date itself was set in an illegal manner
• The illegal way in which the electoral laws for this election were promulgated
• The atrocious state of Zimbabwe’s voters’ roll and the disenfranchisement of Zimbabweans that will result
• The mess that was made of the special voting for the police
• Continued media bias by Zimbabwe’s state television broadcaster
• The fact that political parties still don’t have access to the final voters’ roll as promised
• The fact that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission still hasn’t issued the final list of polling stations
• The fact that POTRAZ has ordered mobile phone carriers like Econet to not carry international bulk text messages for political reasons

With a list like this what is most of concern is that the African Union doesn’t see anything of concern. Is this the low standard we have for Zimbabwean elections, and African elections more generally. As long as the violence stays minimal and the intimidation low-grade, it will do.  Never mind how many laws you break or rights you trample on along the way, our African colleagues will just turn a blind eye so it can be deemed “credible enough.”

Media Centre Zimbabwe and Feya Feya Campaign – Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition are hosting a political parties debate, to be broadcast live on ZiFM Stereo.

Date: Wednesday 24 July
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Venue: Media Centre (Cnr Nelson Mandela and 3rd Street, Harare)

Speakers:
- Hon D Mwonzora, MDC T
- Mr Edwin Mushoriwa, MDC
- Hon S Kasukuwere, ZANU PF

Topic: Hopes Dreams or Lies, What’s on the menu? Unpacking the political party manifestos for the 2013 Harmonised election.

Admission: Free. All are welcome. Police have been notified about this event.

Kubatana continues to receive citizen feedback about the environment on the ground as Zimbabwe prepares for harmonised elections 31 July 2013.  You can read other comments and feedback here, here and here.

• Zanu PF is forcing business people to remove MDC-T posters from the walls of their shops in Gutu South at Nerupiri Business Centre, and threatening people saying they must vote for Zanu PF because there will be a computer inside the ballot box recording the names of people voting for MDC-T and those people will be beaten at the time of re-run.
• The way Zanu pf is reacting it shows that they now know that Tsvangirai is ready to rule.
• Could you please tell Mr PM to boycott for the sake of those who love him. We need peace.
• I was on a Zanu PF meeting in Tamandai Chipinge East with D Mutasa being the centre man. It was all about M Tsvangirayi, ‘achinzi pasi naye mbavha yevakadzi, hure revarungu. Akauya kuzoparadza dzidzo yakaunzwa na R Mugabe. Chipufkuto chakapinda muminda yatakapihwa navaMugabe 90 percent of the people where not of that area and 10 percent where all from MDC. They were saying vote for Zanu PF kuti nzara ipere.
• Hello Zimbabweans. Last week when i told you that political violence can start anytime in Mberengwa, some of you cried foul.  Look at what happens today. An Mdc-t supporter by the name Melusi Ngwenya  of  Matibini Village in Mberengwa North constituency was  chased from a funeral because he was carrying Mdc posters on his bicycle.  Sanson Mahwowa of Yorks resettlement  area and Edias Madhumera who are Zanu pf stalwarts  threatened Melusi with unspecified action before chasing him away. The fenural was at Matibini village where a respected old woman was being buried.
• Intimidation is rife from suspected CIO, soldiers and Zanu PF campaign agents in mission schools rural areas e.g. Murewa South. Newspaper vendors are being threatened not to display newspaper headlines that denounce Zanu PF or their leader.
• Can we please see a presidential live debate with all presidential candidates like most countries do before elections.
• Do you really discuss about the underdevelopment of Gokwe-Kana when you deliberate as cabinet/parliament & if so with what solutions?
• I’m worried about what  the media campaigning live but mdc no coverage it’s not fair
• Is it true MDC did it during the POLICE election.
• In Shamva MDC posters are being removed
• Pres Tsvangiraì mus consider de wishes of the pple 4 de pple know wat they want.
• Pamberi ne peaceful elections.peace is my responsibility.yo responsibility n our responsibility. Ngativotei murúnyararo.

Zimbabwe’s 2013 election is in 9 days time, and political party posters are papering the streets. As Bev Clark pointed out last week, Zanu PF’s tactic seems to be to plaster their posters on private property (and the occasional large rock).  Whilst clearly that has its problems, the MDC posters I saw this weekend covering up advertising for artisans and informal business people isn’t much better.

With formal employment being so scarce in Zimbabwe, many people have taken to informal employment, and advertise their services on trees. As this blog by Lenard Kamwendo demonstrates, key cutters, plumbers, electricians and more all find a place on Harare’s streets – and trees. If the MDC were serious about Jobs, Upliftment, Investment Capital and the Environment (JUICE) and the promises it makes in its 2013 election manifesto to tackle unemployment, you’d think it would be promoting these enterprising individuals, not covering up their advertising to further their own political agendas.

With just 12 days to go before Zimbabwe’s 2013 Harmonised Elections, Kubatana’s SMS subscribers have been sharing their concerns, observations, citizen reports and on-the-ground anecdotes with us. They share their thoughts on special voting, the electoral environment, intimidation and more. Here are some more of their reports and feedback:

• Tasangana nechallenge kuno.1 of our member atorerwa t-shirt nemunhu we Zanu anonzi Alice Chiwara, Arex office. plz lets teach her a lesson, tibetserei Zv east w20 (We have faced a challenge he in Zvimba East Ward 20, where one of our members had his t-shirt taken by a Zanu member Alice Chiwara, Arex office. Please let us teach her a lesson)
• ZEC can be ready any time, the problem is probably that it is partisan
• Special voting is a step towards rigging
• Did MDC tighten everything? Are these thieves not going to steal again? Have u people noticed that 50% of MDC supporters don’t want to be known just of victimisation, 30% go to MDC rallies then 25% go to Zanu-PF. only 5% is actual Zanu, so they wont win they just rig to tell the truth. If MDC don’t wake up they wont win
• Ndirikuona mai veZanu mai Sengerai vachifamba vachikorokodza madzimai eChishamiso Hippo Valley Chiredzi vachiti hendei tinozorabwa kurally (In Hippo Valley, Chiredzi I am witnessing a Zanu member Mrs Sengerai encouraging all women to go and attend a rally or they will be beaten)
• We need observers at polling station. Make sure those who vote today don’t vote on 31 July. Check that it’s a tradition.
• More police officer and teacher returned without casting vote in Chinhoyi Cocksey Hall on close of special votes at around 1900hrs. Complained of time wasted while queuing to cast their vote, names were being called in batch of ten with a delaying tactic. They questioned what is going to happened with their vote when deployed to other constituency
• Zec must put its house n order. I think zec is a zanu pf electoral branch cant do fair things.
• Massive vote rigging as hundreds civil servants were turned away before casting votes at Rusape DA’s Boardroom.
• Mt Darwin North Total Special voters Only 90 cast their votes.
• Tiriku mwenezana estater hatizivi vekuvhotera kubva kuna counsellor, mp tongoziva pres Tsvangirai chete takaputirwa kuno (We are in Mwenezana Estate – We do not know the candidates from councillor to MP. All we know is the presidential candidate Tsvangirai)
• Kuno kwaSadza Chikomba East all police wives voted yesterday but are not officers and will vote again 31 July
• Lets not create Tsvangirai another Mugabe monster
• Met a certain Councillor (Zanu-pf) in a lift who said things r tuff their r dwelling on T.B Joshua’s prophecy to redeem them
• People are being threatened by Zanu-PF youth being led by Matangira (Bindura North candidate) and some neighbourhood members chanting their slogan day and night.
• Taona moto kunoku Mudzi Nyamatawa school nemisanga yemusango yeZanu (We are being troubled here in Mbudzi, Nyamatawa school by Zanu PF rallies)
• Special vote was chaotic only soldiers and policeman were allowed to vote as their names were found on the voters role but the civil servant who represent as the polling agent their names were not found on the voters role so they did not vote
• All teachers in ward 15 in Chipinge district are forced to wear Zanu pf party regalia.
• Thanks for sending updates, with much gratitude we would like to here more about election as an MDC-t activist I am over optimistic. Wedza
• Its a chance for  Mberengwa North to choice Takavafira Zhou as a good candidate for development
• No posters for presidential candidate in Mhondoro Ngezi constituency.
• Are we ready for elections or we are forcing situations?
• Sadc and African union must help us to hold credible elections Zanu pf is trying all tricks to rig these elections viv tsvangson wakapinda
• I very am happy with manifesto I saw today and it leads us to proper life just at the corner
• Al special votes should be condemned. Police officers should be allowed cast their vote at polling station they are manning.
• Aspiring zanu pf  mp in Buhera central put posters at Chirozva clinic ward 23 last week. MDC-T did the same this week. Zanu-pf supporters threatening powerless nurses.
• Our MP Chiminya buy his car with our 50000 ward 21Masvingo and paint some schools outside only
• Why M.P Chombo has closed Kamwaza Beerhall coz its rented by an independent cand who has teamed up with his ex-wife, why he allows Zanu heavyweights Chapanduka, Mahachi, Mutenga, Mai Joe and Dzunga to harass people in Kamwaza
• Why are ballot boxes being opened tomorrow?Why are those who failed to vote no longer able to do so when it was Zec’s failure to provide stationery and speedy service. I feel Zec is biased and elections shld be stopped since rigging has started. They will delay even the results.
• Everyone is confident of winning in the polls. Interestingly, all candidates are emphasising on  peaceful, free & fair elections & urging supporters to refrain from inhuman & violent acts in the run up to harmonised elections.
• The just ended mobile voter registration exercise was a disgrace laden with irregularities & left many people unregistered. Its publicity was poor& other wards were left out which caused failure of voters to register. Former aliens were being misinformed& requested to pay more. Unnecessary delays& unbecoming conduct by the registering teams were the order of the day& there is exigent need to extend the exercise in order to accommodate all eligible voters.
• Against a background where a lot of town dwellers were denied the chance to register due to orchestrated delays by officials from the registry.
• Kana zvichinetsa zve voters roll ko 1980 takavoter isipo wani ngati vote pasina voters nechitupa chokuratidza kuti uri muZimbabwean chete (If the voters roll is in shamble, why don’t we just vote the way we did in 1980 with mere proof of Zimbabwean identity)
• No need to run an election with things in shambles.
• Ko vana vatanga kuita toitoi vachigara mumabase zviripamutemo here? (Is it legal for people to stay in bases and start singing revolutionary songs?) They are doing day & night patrols together with girls & boys. Hakusi kushungurudza vana here? (Is this not child abuse) Is this free & fare election? People are forced to vote for Zanu pf. Where is Mr peace, justice, love & harmony. Vasikana vachapiwa mimba, AIDS & POVERTY!! (You girls are going to be impregnated, infected with AIDS and Poverty)
• How can the voters roll be corrected so that we free and fair elections? It’s something very worrisome. Where are we heading to?
• In Mberengwa, there were two centres for special voting. That is Mataga growth point and Mberengwa District offices. Only less than 100 teachers and ploice officers managed to vote out of 360 applicants. Again, it is not clear how teachers were chosen  to be  special voters. Lists of teachers were just sent to schools without explanation how they were  chosen. The sad part of it is that teachers wasted a lot of money  travelling to Zec offices to fill forms, photo their id cards and pay for food  during the process. On the voting day, they again used their money to travel to  voting centres only to find that there were no ballot boxes. They used their money to buy food and travel back to their schools. The sad part of it is that history may repeat itself on the 31st of july. Again, it was not clear how those who managed to vote were given the first preference. It was not first come first serve.
• Till when shall we put up with lies & retrogressive ideas that leave our country in a political & economic quagmire? Propaganda & down playing each other takes us nowhere in regards to real & sound development.
• Supporters of Marian Chombo who rents council buildings, rental contracts are being  terminated by Zvimba council because of supporting Marian in Raffingora.
• I think the voting prossece whichi is hapening here is a clear indication that this is the way of rigging since in rural areas is faster than Urban where ZANU PF rules the roost this should be solved before 31 of this month thats shows a total rigging
• In Marondera West all civil servants are being forced to attend a Zanu PF rally at Mahusekwa Growth Point at 11am 19/07/13
• In Mberengwa,political violence can start any time particularly in Mberengwa South constituency under Chief Mketi.  Zimbabweans, just imagine what happened yesterday. Chief Mketi whose really name is Gwativenga Mathethu Ngwenya together with an ex -soldier by the name Harris Dube visited Tino Hove, an Mdc-t supporter and threatened him with unspecied action because he failed to take a zanu pf t-shirt a  day before when they were distributed by zanu pf supporters at a rally. Please warn this partian chief.
• Mushamva  canceler  we  MDC  awonanhamo  ne  vanhu ve zanu   pf  anojungwa jungwa  ne  chigunwe   ngavarege  nhanya  munzira  va chiyimba  zvinokonzera  noiz (In Shamva MDC Councillor is being victimised by Zanu-PF. They poke him with their fingers in his face. They move around singing making noise)
• Shamva  hayibvumire  t  shert ye  MDC (You are not allowed to put on an MDC t-shirt in Shamva)
• Nhamo yedu kuno kuBuhera yanyanya. 2013 nanhasi from Buhera to Mutare mabhazi anosumuka before 12 midnight osvika kuma3 maMutare. Kuitawohere hakunawo mutemo unocontroler maoperator awa here? (We are suffering here in Buhera and its too much. We are in 2013 and the buses from Buhera to Mutare leave before midnight and they arrive in Mutare at 3am. Aren’t there any laws that can control these transport operators)
• Sadc and au should help us zanu pf wants to rig this looming election but we should resist by all means necessary
• If zec fails to provide enough voting material for the cops, what about for the whole country?
• Mashonaland centril Bindura Chipadze t/ship  vanhuvarikutorerwa tu slip twekuvotesa neve zanu pf (Mashonaland Central, Bindura, Chipadze t/shp – Zanu pf is taking voting slips for the people)
• 192 out of 196 special  voters  votes. Returned away 99 Reg BUT no envelopes at Nyamhunga polling Kariba