The latest episode of the farce which is Zimbabwe’s 31 July election aired this weekend. 14-15 July were the designated dates for “special voting,” in which members of the police and armed forces, who will be on duty on election day and thus unable to go to their regular polling station to vote, are given an opportunity to vote.

As a tweet from @SirNige aptly summed it up, “The special vote currently taking place in Zimbabwe is definitely very special #ZimElections.”

Ever since the Constitution Court said Zimbabwe’s Harmonised Election was to be held as soon as possible, and should be before 31 July, Zimbabwe’s election – which was never going to be without its eyebrow raising moments – has reached new lows.

The fact that the president’s proclamation of the election date was announced and scheduled in an illegal and unconstitutional manner was conveniently swept under the carpet when the same Constitutional Court postponed arguments against the election date, and then waited until after Nomination Court had sat to dismiss the cases.

Add to that, the Constitutionally mandated ward-based mobile voter registration process was reduced to a district-based process, with the government claiming it didn’t have sufficient funds to follow the directive of its own constitution. The voters’ roll coming out of this process is equally problematic, with the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) noting serious irregularities with the voters’ roll, particularly the under-registration of urban and young voters. This is consistent with criticisms from organisations like the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), Election Resource Centre (ERC) and Youth Forum on the mobile voter registration exercise.

Meanwhile, a court case on the weekend’s special voting process was meant to be heard today – but was postponed until Wednesday, rendering the court case largely academic as Nehanda Radio points out, since special voting is scheduled to be wrapped up by then.

A 31 July election date meant that special voting had to be held no later than this weekend. As human rights lawyer @tzhuwarara helpfully explained via Twitter, “In terms of Sec 81A(1)(a) of Zim electoral law ZEC MUST set two days only 4 special vote, the last day hz 2 b at least 16 days frm Jul 31.”

But this special voting – which many thought would be a non-event, with police officers lining up to vote as their commanding officers instructed them to – has proved a farce. According to the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, many polling stations around the country received material late yesterday, or even today, compromising the polling at these locations. ZESN also noted that some polling stations in Harare were using informal hand-written lists of voters.

These irregularities highlight the inability of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to prepare the necessary logistics for the special vote. But from the beginning, Zimbabwe’s 31 July election has been compromised. It might not be marred by the violence witnessed in 2008, or even experience the types of human rights violations the RFK Centre and Amnesty International note it is vulnerable to.

Napoleon allegedly once said “never ascribe to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence.” Whether through malice or incompetence, Zimbabwe’s 2013 election has been subjected to an illegal process and unprocedural time frame which undermine the legitimacy of this election, and thus the country’s prospects of democratic governance.

Kubatana subscribers have been sharing their reports on the local environment as Zimbabwe gets ready for Harmonised Elections 31 July. In their own words:

• In farms in Bindura North we are being intimidated by Zanu PF with death and people are afraid for their lives. Where are observers because there are rallies daily in our area until election day.
• Guys there is a lot of fighting between Zanu PF candidates in Bikita West. People are being intimidated, the situation is so tense.
• Because of politicians who are inconsiderate of our education and solely concentrate on power, students are now being affected as they are now forced to close school on the 26th. How can we put the same person who ignores our concerns in power? Food for thought.
• In Bulawayo, Zanu PF has distributed tshirts and caps to all civil servants, whether you like or not, signalling beginning of intimidation.
• There is an advert on Radio Zimbabwe against hate speech and they are publishing speeches that were made by Morgan Tsvangirai and Tendai Biti. Now my question is, why are they not giving us reasons why those people came to say that, also I attended a rally yesterday in Vic Falls where Obert Mpofu used hate speech against Morgan Tsvangirai, and that will not be published. Is there justice there?
• Many people attend Zanu PF rally at Kuwadzana Holland because of artist that used be zanu for campaigning, i talk with several people and they say we are here becoz of sulu and jahprazy. And some they say cde betty kaseke will win at 31 July.
• Long queues are being noted at Wedza Police Station for those waiting to cast their special votes, so too at Sadza Police Post in Chikomba. But little did I know that there are so many police officers at these two stations.
• In Gweru Mkoba its so annoying to realise that our MP did noting with the funds meant 2 develop our community. I expected him to repair a water tank which has not been working 4yrs, to service high level areas instead of relying on NGOsto2 drill boreholes. He moves with a car worth 35 000.There is no hope in Zim
• Kuno Mutare south, Dora Dombo, villages (Mundembe & Bvirindi, chief Zimunya Bvirindi is forcing every house hold to attend to a Zanu PF rally being addressed by Pemhenai candidate for Zanu PF on Sat 13/07/2012.
• Here at Ngezi we are crying for Zanu pf strategy to cause the people of Turf complex of Zimplats Ngezi unregister. Please help us we want to vote for a better change. But PM @ our MDC officials you must have one rally at Ngezi mine pliz do us our   favour because we are tired of Zanu pf. We are here to vote for MDC-T.
• WeZanu wari kubvarura maposter eMDC vachiisa awo it shows hawana patrotism (Zanu supporters are tearing down MDC posters and putting up their, shows they have no patriotism)
• I live in my farm near Triangle pamberi nababa vedu vamugabe
• Why is it Mugabe ari kuda kuvandira kumapositori kwamarange (Why is Mugabe using members of the apostolic sect in Marange)
• Today 1hr ago Tabeth Kanengoni was mobilising people 2 vote 4 her on the coming election. She is Z.A.N.U.P.F Candidate for MP Mashonaland Central. Amai Gezi was there Chimukoko the mudert. They said if we loose, runoff & war. Why?
• MDC posters are being torn by Zanu so it shows kuti they are afraid the outcome
• Solders were wearing Zanu Pf regalia at Mutoko Growth Point they torn down MDC ~T that was worn by D KANYONGO in front of ten policemen who had come to solve the reported case
• All civil servants should vote on the special vote.
• I don’t know that our MP was given 50 thousand dollars such a big amount. No development in our constituency. People who were given money for projects were asked to return after use. In our ward we got nothing.
• Gutu district Masvingo province voters cant cast on their votes because ZEC failed to transport ballot papers in time up to now no ballot papers
• I stay in Ascot Gweru .The Gweru Urban MP, Rodrick Rutsvara did nothing for e benefit of e constituency instead he is using e funds to Build a Nite Club in Ascot
• Kutyisidzirwa kuMajongwe  kwanyanya  ward31  mt  north  mkumbura (Intimidation is high in Manjongwe ward 31 Mt North Mkumbura)
• Gutu west polling station Gatenel close at 1900hrs without ballot papers since 6am
• Chikomba East Constituency, Sadza Council Hall Polling Station – Voting in special voting started for Chikomba Central officers only. The rest are still waiting for ballot papers. Worrying is the presence of a white landrover truck without number plates being parked at the polling hall carrying on its sides&back posters of Zanu PF’s candidate for Chikomba Central, Felit T. Mbona.

I’ve just come back from a great night of theatre, thanks to the creativity and dedication of Rooftop Promotions.

Written by Stephen Chifunyise, Farai and Chipo in Love tells the story of two first-year university students and the pressure that love, sex, university life, the Zimbabwean economy and the job market bring to bear on their relationship. Add a wayward “Sekuru” with only one thing on his mind, and you’ve got the recipe for a drama that both delights and makes you cringe.

The cast of three, directed by Daves Guzha, draw the audience in and bring the material to life with great pace, energy and credibility. It’s a “play with a message,” but not one which is so heavy-handed or moralistic that it becomes tedious.

My greatest critique would be the poor turn out. The audience straggled in late, and maxed out at about 15 people by 7:10. So do yourself, and the production a favour. Bring your friends, bring your family, and get there!

Farai and Chipo in Love

Dates: 11 – 15 July
Time: 7pm
Cost: $5
Venue: Old Mutual Theatre, Alliance Francaise, 328 Herbert Chitepo Ave, Harare

For more information phone 0774-434245 or 0774-694373.

As Zimbabwe gets ready for elections 31 July, and special voting this weekend, our SMS subscribers have been sharing their thoughts and observations about the electoral environment. Here is some of their feedback:

• Hatisi kufara ne zviri kuitika kuno kuBudiriro uye nhau dziri kubuda mudzi nhepfenyuro dzino taura zvisizvo pamusoro pa Costa Machingauta. (We are not please about what is going on in Budiriro and the way the media (radio) is bringing out the issue of Costa Machingauta)
• Police officers are all wearing Zanu-pf regalia. What does that mean?
• It’s now time up!  People should stand up for their rights! Mazimbabwe hatisadya uroi nokunyara! (Zimbabweans we no longer want to evil against each other) Lets’ vote wisely!
• We want free and fair election 2 make some developments 2 our country. new plans 2 be beautiful Zimbabwe

Zanu PF posters for the July 31 election have been put up on the Makoni South Constituency Parliamentary Information Centre notice board. Whilst clearly it’s tempting advertising space, surely that’s the kind of space that should advertise equally for all parties, or none. A public service. Oh, like the public broadcaster, ZBC. Right.

As Zimbabwe prepares for the 31 July election, a subscriber in Raffingora shares this unverified report of political violence in  Mashonaland West.

A Zanu PF war vet by the name Yondo has beaten a supporter of a independent candidate Mai Chombo today, 11 July at Raffingora Business Centre. She was accompanied by other war vets, whose names are Kangachepe Kufaingano and Mutokoti Vongai.