Zimbabwe imports generators for elections

By Wilson Watson

HARARE, Zimbabwe- Zimbabwe has imported generators to power remote polling stations during next week’s harmonized elections while provisions have been put in place to airlift ballot boxes from areas that were affected by floods.
The country holds its harmonized elections that will see people choosing the President, MPs, Senators and councilors in one day and although voting is expected to close at 7 pm, there is a likelihood that polling will extend into the late hours of the night.

“The generators are being distributed to our polling stations so that people can vote till evening if there is need. We will then take back these generators after the elections for a proper redistribution exercise,” President Robert Mugabe who is seeking re-election told his supporters at a campaign rally in Gweru.
On the other hand the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced that it has made provisions to airlift ballot boxes to and from inaccessible areas where roads were destroyed by floods.

Most roads in the country, especially in rural areas were damaged after heavy rains pounced the country from December to February.
ZEC deputy elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said: “We have made some plans to uplift ballot papers in some areas such as Gokwe, Muzarabani and Tsholotsho that were affected by the floods.”
In other areas, Silaigwana said the District Development Fund, a body mandated to look after the country’s roads was busy working with rural district councils to upgrade the roads.

About six million have been registered to cast their votes in the elections that are set to usher in a new political leadership that might steer the country out of economic problems.
A total of 8,998 poling stations have been identified throughout the country for the elections. While more than 90,000 poling officers have been recruited.
Each poling station will be manned by 11 officers.