By Staff Writer
CITIZENS Convergence for Change leader Nelson Chamisa Saturday cast his ballot at a polling station in Kuwadzana East constituency, signifying an act of defiance in the midst of alleged irregularities.
The trailblazing opposition leader has proceeded to participate in the plebiscite despite suffering heavy blows of violent attacks from the ruling Zanu-pf party supporters and losing the life of one supporter who was murdered at a rally in Kwekwe.
In an earlier press briefing a day before the elections, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said they now knew some of ZEC’s tactics such as placing of polling stations in bushes, which now puts them at a better stage than they would have been if they had chosen not to take part.
“We have placed firmly on record that there are huge irregularities,” she told reporters Friday.
“The purpose of the by-elections for us as CCC is to test the readiness and preparedness, especially of ZEC, so the more data points we can put together the stronger we will be in 2023.”
She added; “Now we are on our guard, we know that one of the mechanisms ZEC uses is to twist around polling stations.
“When it comes to training of polling agents we have had some problems with ZEC, some of the regulations that are imposed are illegal but now we are on our guard.
“We cannot test the system without participating. If we do not participate we will not have a leg to stand on in terms of holding ZEC to account and even implementing some of the legal challenges we have in the offing.
“The more votes that come out, the more information we have to sample and prepare for 2023. Our participation in this election is not an endorsement of the unconstitutional and lack of neutrality of state institutions, especially ZEC, to the contrary it is going to create a platform for us to challenge all these issues.
“The question of a boycott is not something we are prepared to entertain.”
