ZESN Report on the 31 July 2013 Harmonised Elections Appendix 3: 31 July Press Release Press Release ZIMBABWE ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK ZESN OBSERVES 2013 HARMONISED ELECTIONS Harare, 31 July 2013 –The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is observing the 2013 Harmonized elections in a calm and peaceful environment. Most polling stations opened on time with adequate voting materials available. It is regrettable that the voters’ roll remained unavailable and this can potentially undermine the credibility of the electoral process. Also of major concern was the delayed release, distribution and the non- availability of the electronic and hard copies of the voters roll particularly to contesting political parties. ZESN noted the following issues regarding the voters’ roll;     Some who voted in the special voting process, had not had their names removed from the voters’ roll. Registered voters who voted in previous elections did not appear on the voters’ roll. Some who claim to have not voted in the special voting process had their names crossed out of the voters’ roll. Some people’s registration slips did not disclose the ward but constituency and block. As a result some people were referred to the constituency command centres where they were either assisted or not. The Ward based voting system was confusing and many as a result were turned away. ZESN is also concerned by reports filtering in from various provinces regarding disruptions in the voting process and the high numbers of assisted voters particularly in Mashonaland East, West and Masvingo provinces. For example, in Goromonzi South Mashonaland East, at one polling station voters in this area have been assisted to vote by the same three people from their area while others were provided an opportunity to be assisted by people of their choice. In a related incident, known MDC-T supporters from Muzarabani North constituency were allegedly ordered by ZANU PF officials to declare that they are illiterate and were assigned people who assisted them to vote. Only the headman and his wife voted freely with about 40 to 50 people being assisted to vote at Nyadukutu Primary School. In Mutare South, Ward 2, at Gutaurare School as at 1300hours 50 assisted voters had been recorded. In Midlands those who are illiterate, were not being given a chance to choose a person who can assist them as stated by Section 59 of the Electoral Act. The disruption of voting in Chipinge South as a result of an error by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). ZESN observers reported that ZEC had switched candidates’ pictures on the ballot papers and voting had to be stopped temporarily as the ZEC tried to rectify the problem. 94 | P a g e