Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum Report — Of Stuffed ballots and Empty Stomachs precaution of bringing a photocopy of the relevant page of the newspaper advertising their appointment as an election agent, they were still turned away after being told that the original was required. Accordingly, MDC election agents were unable to observe the sealing of the ballot boxes, observe that they were empty at the commencement of polling and that no stuffing took place. In contrast ZANU(PF) election agents, whose names had not in fact been published as required,55 were granted access without any ado. Observation of the process did not proceed smoothly for Observers and journalists either. Many Observers’ Government-issued accreditation cards referred to the earlier repealed Electoral Act [Chapter 2:01]. On this basis some were excluded from polling stations, and one Observer was placed under arrest and detained for being in possession of a “fraudulent” accreditation card. Observers accredited under the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) were unable to observe the vital initial stages the sealing of ballot boxes and early polling as officials had barred them from entering the polling stations to which they had been deployed. Entry was only gained after the dispatch of lawyers to these polling stations.56 Similarly, several ZESN Observers were denied access to polling stations in the remoter rural polling stations for the counting process by the Presiding Officer. One official advised an Observer that he “had observed enough” and should now leave. When one Observer in Zvishavane refused to accept this treatment he was arrested and detained.57 Journalists were to learn that having passed through the accreditation process was no guarantee that they could carry out their work without hindrance. A Swedish journalist who had been duly accredited by the Media and Information Commission was picked up for questioning by the police the day before polling, but released after questioning. The day after the poll he was arrested by immigration officials, and, after being held by them without access to his lawyer, deported on the same day.58 Voting Most reports indicate that voting proceeded in a peaceful and orderly way. With an average of 50 to 900 votes cast at each polling station,59 congestion was minimal, any congestion that 54 55 56 57 58 59 See the Election Petitions filed by MDC candidates challenging the results in Gwanda, Insiza, Gweru Rural, Gokwe, Harare South, Manyame, Gutu South, Chimanimani, Goromonzi, Marondera East, Mutasa South, Mutasa North and Nyanga. Advertisements indicating the names of ZANU(PF) polling agents were only published 1 or 2 days before polling instead of the statutory 3 days. ZLHR Report on the 2005 Parliamentary Elections p 46. ZLHR Report p 47. ZLHR Report p 20. In rare instances voters exceeded 1000 or more at a single polling station. 19