SITUATION ROOM Press statement 2pm 1st August 2013
The Matabeleland Situation Room comprising more than 20 organisation collaborated to observe and monitor the 2013 Election processes wish to declare our initial observations and findings. At the onset we expressed concern that the chaos that prevailed during the registration and special voting processes could have been organised chaos. Our observation teams worked around the clock to collect voter views on the election process and reported high number of voters turned away, assisted without clear reason. Alternatively a high number of people were chased away for not appearing on the voters roll. There were serious discrepancies at different polling stations as for the same reason that some voters were turned away others were allowed to vote.

By 15hrs yesterday, in a sample of 28 Bulawayo polling stations, approximately 1,147 registered voters had been turned away. This figure gives an indication of a possible trend in other parts of the country.

Many other polling irregularities were reported. Ballot papers ran out in many polling stations and people were unable to vote as a result, e.g. Spitzkop and Jacaranda in ward 3 Gwanda. These polling stations then closed early at 2pm with voters being told to come back in 3 hours. They then miraculously managed to get all potential voters to vote from 10pm to midnight when ballot papers came in. This stock out was a result of an unequal supply or ballot papers. Many polling stations ran out or council ballots with some areas reporting that people carried on voting with the remaining ballot for presidential and members of parliament.

Approximately 150 police officers, very youthful looking and in brand new uniforms were seen being loaded into 5 (five) Mazda B22 and one T-35 trucks at Drill hall in Bulawayo. They all had luggage indicating that they were either being deployed to sleep somewhere or had already slept somewhere.

Sightings of hundreds of uniformed police and plain clothed with special voting slips at many polling stations – Chief Assembly Hall in Ntabazinduna Umguza Constituency Ward 5, Makokoba Stanley Hall Ward 7, Llewellyn Primary School, in Llewellyn Barracks. However it has remained unclear as to if they were crossed off on the voters roll or granted voting access by the waiting slip.

Additionally, we believe that such large numbers of uniformed personnel at any given polling station is intimidating for voters who still bear memories if police brutality during the 2008 election.

Further information came from Thelamanzi Kiosk Polling Station in Ward 16 Umzingwane that groups of youth were chanting Zanu PF slogans within 50 meters of the polling station were and threatening retribution if Zanu PF lost the election. This intimidated voters.

In the initial analysis, we feel that the Election cannot be judged on the 31st July 2013 alone or on the ballots cast or the peaceful day but must be judged on the whole process from Constitutional Court judgement day to the day we get the final results. It must also be judged on the millions of Zimbabweans both young and old, uniformed or in civilian garb who did not manage to access their right to register and vote.