Kubatana.net ~ an online community of Zimbabwean activists

Archive for the 'Reflections' Category

Crowd sourced citizen reporting on Zimbabwe’s constitutional referendum

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Sunday, March 17th, 2013 by Bev Clark

Here is some more crowd sourced citizen reporting from around Zimbabwe. For consolidated citizen feedback please click here.

Chimanimani – Court House next to the DA’S office. It was well sign posted. There was nobody in the queue ahead of us at 11.45hrs. Three police sat at a pleasant distance under a tree. The process was easy and quick. Four people in the queue by the time we left. The process took 4 minutes.

Some observations 16/3/13 Mbare
8.00am Stodart Hall: about half a dozen people waiting to vote, moving slowly
9.00am St.Peter’s school (next to Shawasha flats): yard full of four queues
4.00pm St.Peter’s: eight police, no voters Musika 1, a police tent on 20th St: one or two voters, very slow Musika 2, a police tent near Mbare PO buses: half a dozen police, less voters; very slow
4.30pm Gwinyai school: little activity visible from outside the gate; very few voters
4.40pm Harare Sec Sch: little activity visible from outside the gate; very few voters

With the exception of St.Peters School in the morning, where the impression was that all the flats residents were voting together, there were as many or more cops at each polling station as voters at any time. The police were all very young, in fresh new grey uniforms displaying no Force numbers.

In walking around I saw few inked fingers, but people were not displaying them as they would after voting in an election. One woman washing fish showed that the ink was almost washed off her finger.

I am in Ward 15 Mutare South Constituency, Dangamvura people are not coming. It looks like there is vote apathy.

Voting was done peacefully though most people do not know what is in the proposed constitution. Ruwa.

Am in town of Redcliff, Kwe Kwe. Voting was peaceful though it was characterised by voter apathy.

Big turnout at Dzivaresekwa.

I am quite disturbed by Justice R Makarau’s statement on ZTV that some polling stations across the country opened a bit late due to shortage of fuel and late pitching of tents. Isn’t that poor planning on the part of ZEC or perhaps it’s lack of funding by government.

Generally no incidence of violence so far. People didn’t come in volumes as expected. I voted at 0700am we were only 5 men and 2 women. Voter apathy is expected since most people said they never saw the draft document. Gweru Mkoba.

I got the copy of the constitution at my school where I teach on time b4 I voted. Generally most people didn’t see the final draft constitution. This has caused confusion among people. I overhead 3 ladies asking each other whether to vote yes or no.

In Gokwe South gwehava area no voter education so they voted for something else other than a good constitution.

In Mat South, Matobo, Cyrene. Drove across 2 Mat North, Umguza, WestAcre 2 cast my vote. Lots by the shopping centre with red fingers, none eva seen a draft const!

NCA & Zimrights well known members denied access polls around Kariba. ZANU PF members going door 2 door writing names of those either voted or not. People were put on polling stations jotting down names.

People voted here at Zvishavane but almost everyone said we had voted for what we have not knowin’ but they vote in peace.

Majority do not know what YES/NO is all about hence a very low turn up.

Stop

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Saturday, March 16th, 2013 by Bev Clark

Presidential Motorcade

Masi, Jamu and I
wave our hands to the President.
The windows of his limo
are tinted
and are always closed.
The motorcade travels fast
but Masi and Jamu say
the President waves back.

We wave our hands
every time the motorcade passes
in the hope it will stop
to drop a coin.

But we hear
the chauffeur does not know
the ‘Give-way’ sign
nor the ‘Stop’ sign.

© 1996, Julius Chingono

What people are saying

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Saturday, March 16th, 2013 by Bev Clark

Here’s what people are saying:

Here in Glen View people are coming to the polling station but it would have been more vibrant if people were well educated and informed on the constitution and the requirement for someone to be legible to vote. The turn out is not cumin in numbers as expected.

Still stuck at work. Do not know when I will be free.

Am in Bindura, people are voting but it appears that about 30% will not go.

Voting started at a slow pace in Kambuzuma. People seemingly not to be fully aware. It seems as a normal day. I went to vote at Rukudzo primary school at around 0945 hrs. I saw only one person coming out of the polling station and meet another on my way out.

 

Citizen reports on Zimbabwe’s referendum

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Saturday, March 16th, 2013 by Bev Clark

These are messages coming in from Kubatana subscribers from around Zimbabwe:

Here in Masvingo town Sisk B/Centre as at 0900, there was no queue; people were voting peacefully; everything seemed to be in place.

I was at St Catherine near Newlands shops. The turnout was good. Environment good. Just pray for this environment on presidential.

I have noted with concern the freedom in Mbare. The process of voting is going on peacefully but yesterday people were forced/summoned to go to different ZANU PF bases to be given last minute instruction on the next day of voting for referendum. What I observed to be of intimidation matter was that people were told they should come to the bases after voting to register their names and if you do not do that they said they would link you to MDC and to be forcefully evicted from there houses and replace with pro ZANU PF supporters which is unlawful. To me this I don’t think its fair in what you call a democratic country.

Again on Thursday summons were distributed from what they called City of Harare they were send to houses in Jourburk lines in Mbare for overdue accounts, from reliable sources I am told summons to ZANU PF members were held by the party authorities in the area but if they suspect you are an MDC supporter or you are non partisan the summons were delivered. What I see is the party is trying to intimidate people ahead of the polls. On the same summons issue I was issued with one the copy I have it my dues are $1 400 and the one next door has a bill of $4 000 but since he is a pro ZANU no action – is this fair. You can investigate all issues I have highlighted above they are true. The party authorities in the area have photocopies of the voters roll. On the issue of City of Harare and overdue accounts I understand there is the issue of pay plan why cant they give residents chance to clear and again since the Council is dominated by MDC councilors why do they seem not to have a heart and approve summons which will make their party to be at a disadvantage with the residents.

I am in Mt Darwin. The situation is calm. Things are proceeding well. We pray for a future, which we hope, is being shaped today.

Here in Hwange there is low turnout of people.

Now at the poling station in Nyanga. Many people are voting. Talked to some, they are very happy for the new constitution. Hope to see positive results.

I m in Glen Norah B I voted by 7:30am @ Glen Norah High 2 School. Area very calm but a lot of people do not know what they are voting for especially women. The vote campaign didn’t reach people. No violence in Glen Norah or toyi toyi. I will be updating u on everything if confirm this email.

Very few people are voting. Voter apathy in Karoi town. People don’t know what to vote for Yes or No. The Draft was fast tracked to people

Am at Rimbi polling station; people are voting in peace but turn up is still low and is expected to increase with time.

The Sadza command centre polling station opened at exactly 0700 hrs. The voters started to trickle in to exercise their right. The environment here is calm & peaceful. I am expecting that by midday many people will have cast their votes. Some shops are closed as their owners are going to vote. The command centre is well manned by police officers.

Here in Chipinge, referendum is going well and I hope it will go the same through the day.

Nothing much is happening, only that people are not certain about the future ahead of either of the results, in Gaza, Chipinge.

I’m so unhappy our bosses did not excuse us from work to go and vote. Remember this is a national event and every vote counts. Such issues should be reviewed at national television and proper measures should be taken against such bosses. Am so unhappy.

Mash Central. Mazowe North. Mvurwi people are going 2 vote in numbers although no long queues.

Am in Chiredzi, Hippo Valley Mill. Low turnout corresponding to the number of population around the polling station, the environment is safe. Hope as time passes turnout will increase.

People are voting but as for the Seventh-day Adventist Church members, they are saying we are not going to vote, for we already have the law of God in the Bible.

I am in Mutare and have already voted. It’s so quiet in the city and people are voting peacefully. We thank God for that.

People have come in fairly large numbers especially the elderly I’m worried about the youth they are very reserved and view the voting system as an adult issue. Serious voter education is needed in our rural Plumtree.

In Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, the best peaceful elections so far!

In Zengeza there is a overwhelming response.

Aidah from Zaka; lots of people casting their votes.

Independence

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Thursday, March 14th, 2013 by Bev Clark

There is nothing more provocative than minding your own business.
- William S. Burroughs

Life

del.icio.us TRACK TOP
Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 by Bev Clark

Try