BY PRINCE MACHAYA AND CHARITY RUZVIDZO
HARARE – Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe and police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga have both issued chilling threats against opposition forces and associated activist groups who either picket at polling stations or publicly announce their own tally of votes cast in elections due this Wednesday.
This comes as the opposition has organised its own members who will receive and collate votes from parts of the country in an attempt to forestall any attempts by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce a fake outcome.
The opposition is up in arms with the poll management authority over decisions skewed in favour of the ruling Zanu PF.
CCC politicians have urged voters to “defend” their vote through keeping the confines of their respective polling stations to ensure the correct results are announced.
Equally, cyber based activist group, Team Pachedu has also caused some discomfort to ZEC through continued scrutiny over the poll management authority’s misdemeanours.
Team Pachedu has been actively urging mapping of polling stations and has also created an Application called Mandla, which allows individuals to upload images of V11s of various polling stations, to pre-empt any rigging attempts by ZEC.
V11s are official forms containing the poll results per polling station which are co-signed by ZEC and relevant parties.
In separate statements issued on the eve of the crunch poll Tuesday, both Kazembe and Matanga said police will come down hard on those set to announce their results or remain at their polling stations.
“Anyone who intends to transmit and announce election results outside the mandate of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has no good intentions for the country’s peace and security,” Kazembe said.
“As such, the transmission and publication of results by any person or body other than ZEC is unlawful, criminal and will be dealt with accordingly.”
Kazembe added, “We also know that some political parties are currently recruiting youths from urban areas, for deployment in some rural areas where they would co-ordinate these so-called ‘defend the vote’ antics.
“We are, however, aware that these are machinations aimed at inciting violence.
“This conduct violates Section 90 of the Electoral Act and Sections 8 and 10 of the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act, which prohibit gathering around polling stations and any unauthorised congregations, respectively.
“This mischief must stop. The Security Forces are ready to descend on any persons who will be caught on the wrong side of the law.”
He said security forces have also noted ‘unprecedented interest and unwarranted interference in internal political processes by some local actors whose activities are feared to endanger national security.
“Some political leaders have chosen a different path, never at any time pronouncing themselves on the need to promote peace. Rather, we have witnessed clear threats of violence in the event of unfavorable results to some,” said Kazembe.
Equally, Matanga said police were aware of plans to gather at polling stations saying police will move in to “protect the internal security of the country without any form of hesitation or compromise”.
The police boss threatened to invoke sections of the Electoral Act and the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act to descend on “unsanctioned public gatherings”.
“Any gatherings outside polling stations shall be dealt with in terms of the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act, Chapter 11:23,” Matanga said.
“My office will indeed invoke the necessary security measures to maintain law and order without fear or favour in the country.
“Unruly elements bent on causing chaos, alarm and despondency in the country are accordingly warned.”
