Zimbabwe police officers were caught on camera casting their vote without permission or approval of the electoral body. There was no one to cross their names from the voters roll making it possible for them to vote again on July 30th.
Officers voting in Bulawayo claimed that they were being forced to vote for the ruling ZANU PF by their superiors who conducted the voting with no officials from ZEC or election agents from other parties.
The national electoral body said it was unaware of any postal voting taking place in Bulawayo Zimbabwe on Thursday, 12th of July.
In a statement, ZEC acting chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana said they are still processing postal vote applications “and malcontents purporting that members of the uniformed forces voted today” are bent on causing alarm and despondency ahead of the July 30 harmonised elections.
ZEC also contradicted police officials by saying it does not manage postal votes.
However, the Commander ZRP 2018 Harmonised Elections Committee, Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza(pictured) said the postal vote is administered by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
There are videos and pictures of police officers voting.
Speaking about the development, MDC-Alliance candidate, David Coltart, said what happened is not right:
“The electoral process took a huge step backwards today when the ZRP were caught red handed forcing junior police officers to vote illegally. Although ZEC denied the allegations, calling it hogwash, video evidence has emerged confirming this scandal.
“ZEC is now totally compromised and irredeemable. There cannot be a free, fair and lawful election under the current Chair, Commission and staff,” he said.
