Well, that election was a total ghost town. Voter turnout completely bombed in that Nkulumane constituency by-election in Bulawayo, with widespread apathy, especially from younger people. Nine candidates ran for the seat left empty after the previous legislator, Desire Moyo, died in a crash. His widow, Esther Zitha, was among them, facing off against Zanu PF's heavily backed candidate, Freedom Murechu, who had major party figures campaigning for him. Reports also surfaced about alleged vote-buying, with some pointing to new boreholes being drilled as a possible incentive.
Official numbers showed a pathetic scene. Out of nearly twenty-three thousand registered voters, fewer than four thousand actually cast a ballot by late afternoon, with more seniors showing up than anyone else. Almost three hundred people got turned away at polling stations for bad IDs or not being on the roll. The whole thing was quiet, just really empty, with some stations only seeing about fifty voters by mid-morning. This turnout crashed hard compared to the general election last year, which saw over thirteen thousand votes.
The candidate list included comedian Mothusi Madlela Ndlovu for the CCC and several others from different opposition parties. Despite the low energy and the accusations, Zanu PF's candidate ultimately won the race. The entire event just highlighted a deep voter disengagement in the area.
Official numbers showed a pathetic scene. Out of nearly twenty-three thousand registered voters, fewer than four thousand actually cast a ballot by late afternoon, with more seniors showing up than anyone else. Almost three hundred people got turned away at polling stations for bad IDs or not being on the roll. The whole thing was quiet, just really empty, with some stations only seeing about fifty voters by mid-morning. This turnout crashed hard compared to the general election last year, which saw over thirteen thousand votes.
The candidate list included comedian Mothusi Madlela Ndlovu for the CCC and several others from different opposition parties. Despite the low energy and the accusations, Zanu PF's candidate ultimately won the race. The entire event just highlighted a deep voter disengagement in the area.
