The Sunday Mail
Debra Matabvu
GOVERNMENT has released $3 billion to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for Saturday’s National Assembly and council by-elections.
Training of polling officers, who will conduct the elections, is set to commence tomorrow ahead of their deployment to polling stations on Thursday.
The printing of ballot papers has already been completed, with their distribution to voting centres set for later this week.
ZEC spokesperson Commissioner Joyce Kazembe said preparations were at an advanced stage.
“We are well prepared for the by-elections, everything is in place and we are well funded,” said Commissioner Kazembe.
“Printing of the ballot papers was completed and training of polling officers will begin on Monday while deployment will be done on Thursday.
“Each polling station will be allocated not more than 1 000 voters, so if a polling station has more than 1 000 voters there will be additional units created to ensure that there are only 1000 voters at each polling station.
“The list of voters at each polling station will be displayed at each polling station three days before voting day so that voters will have a chance to view their particulars days before voting.”
She said the elections management body has roped in the Red Cross to provide first aid to polling officers and the electorate.
“We have been given enough funds for the by-elections, we were allocated $3 billion for the exercise so everything is in place.”
ZEC will set up 1 317 polling stations for the National Assembly by-elections and 1 031 polling centres for the council polls.
Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 7pm.
At least 16 different political parties will contest in the polls to replace Parliamentarians and councillors who have either died, were redeployed or recalled
