(23 Aug 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Harare, Zimbabwe - 23 August 2023
1. Pan of people in line at dusk after delivery of ballot papers was delayed at some polling stations
2. Various of a man looking for his name using his cellphone light as night falls
3. Wide of voting staff assisting and instructing voters on the process
4. Close of voting staff crossing a name off the voter's register
5. Close of voting staff inking a voter's finger before they cast the ballot
6. Wide of a man casting his ballots
7. Wide of people standing in line in the dark to cast their vote
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sydney Mavutha, Voter
"I am of the opinion that the country is moving in the wrong direction in almost all the aspects, and that's what I'm voting against. I'm very determined to see a change in the way that we are. And even as evidenced by this, that (at) this time people are still waiting in voting queues, that on it's own tells you that things are not going well. And these are things that we really need to to see a change in this country."
9. Various of polling station officer telling unhappy voters in line that ballot papers are finished (running short).
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Alice Chirenje, Voter
"The queue is still very long and we don't know when our other friends are going to leave this place. Some have even gone home to get blankets to come and keep themselves warm like I have done because I also want to cast my vote. But someone who was behind this being told the paper is finished."
11. Wide of unhappy voters waiting outside the polling station
12. Wide of voting staff member sitting/standing inside poling station and voting comes to a halt
STORYLINE:
Election officials extended the voting in Zimbabwe's presidential election until Thursday after delays of up to 10 hours in mostly opposition strongholds as President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeks a second and final term in a country with a history of violent and disputed elections.
Chaotic scenes were seen at some polling stations in Zimbabwe as ballot papers that had been delivered up to 10 hours late ran out, forcing officials to suspend voting Wednesday night in many stations, especially in large urban areas including the capital Harare.
Some stations had not received ballot papers by 7 p.m. when voting was scheduled to close.
Speaking among chaotic scenes in Harare, voter Sydney Mavutha said the queues were an example of why things needed to change.
"I'm very determined to see a change in the way that we are. And even as evidenced by this, that (at) this time people are still waiting in voting queues, that on it's own tells you that things are not going well," he told The Associated Press.
Others like Alice Chirenje were in doubt as to whether they could even cast their vote.
"The queue is still very long and we don't know when our other friends are going to leave this place. Some have even gone home to get blankets to come and keep themselves warm like I have done because I also want to cast my vote," she said.
This is the second general election since the ouster of longtime ruler Robert Mugabe in a coup in 2017.
Twelve presidential candidates are on the ballot, but the main contest is expected to be between 80-year-old Mnangagwa, known as “the crocodile,” and 45-year-old opposition leader Nelson Chamisa. Mnangagwa narrowly beat Chamisa in a disputed election in 2018.
Chamisa hopes to break the ruling ZANU-PF party’s 43-year hold on power. Zimbabwe has had only two leaders since gaining independence from white minority rule in 1980.
AP Video by Sebabatso Mosamo
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