Source: Heal Zimbabwe
Today, 22 October 2016, there is a by election in Norton Constituency following the expulsion of Christopher Mutsvangwa from ZANU PF. Three candidates are contesting, Temba Mliswa, Independent, Ronald Chindedza, ZANU PF and David Choga, National Constitutional Assembly. Heal Zimbabwe Trust has deployed 20 human rights monitors on the ground to assess whether the election process is being held in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner. Below is a mid day update of the process:
06.00am: Polling stations opened on time.
08.00am: Truckloads of ZANU PF youths continue to pour into Norton from Harare.
09.00am: Ward 10 Huge turnout of voters at Norton 2 Primary School.
09.30am: Ward 10 there are fliers all over the place urging MDC T supporters not to participate in the elections. But MDC T. officials contacted by HZT professed ignorance of the fliers and blamed ZANU PF for distributing them. People who spoke to the Heal Zimbabwe team at Culfur shops also said that the fliers were distributed by ZANU PF youths.
09.45am: ward 10 There is low turnout of voters at St Eric high school.
10.00am : At Katanga Business Centre, it seems its business as usual.
10.30am Ward 8 Several ZANU PF youths are stationed at their base that is adjacent to Ngoni stadium.
10.45am : Ward 1 There is low voter turnout at Norton1 Junior School.
11.00am : Norton town Centre Business as usual. Several people who spoke to the Heal Zimbabwe team said they did not vote because they believe the election will be rigged.
Some vendors at a market in Norton town centre allege that in the morning, they were force-marched to polling stations by ZANU PF youths.
The vendors were threatened that if they do not vote for ZANU PF candidate, Mr Chindedza, they will be removed from their market stalls.
11.15am: Ward 14 Norton rural ward, most people did not vote as they are not registered voters.
12.00pm :Ward 15 At Kent Primary school, there is a high turnout. Bussed ZANU PF youths in a lorry are stationed a few metres from the polling station.
Bussed ZANU PF youths returning to their homes after voting at Kent primary school.
12.15pm :Ward 15 At Sandringham high school there is low voter turnout. Most people who voted in the morning were bussed by ZANU PF.
People who spoke to the Heal Zimbabwe team at Sandringham High School said that ZANU PF youths forced people to go and vote.
People were told to vote for ZANU PF candidate, Mr Chindedza. No cases of violence have been reported as of now.
12.30pm : Ward 12 There is high turnout of voters. This is the same area where ZANU PF dished out residential stands yesterday.
No cases of violence reported yet but people were threatened that if they do not vote for ZANU PF candidate, Mr Chindedza, they will lose residential stands.
12.45pm: Ward 10 More voters continue to come at Vimbai Primary school. No cases of violence have been recorded in the ward so far.
12.50pm: Ward 8 some of the voters told HZT that last night, ZANU PF youths from a base stationed adjacent to Ngoni Stadium conducted door to door campaigns urging people to vote for Mr Chindedza or lose residential stands allocated to them 3 days ago.
Source: Heal Zimbabwe