These are the personal stories of what voting means to everyday Zimbabweans. Each edition of My Vote Zimbabwe features one person’s story in his or her own words. There’s no presenter, no interviewer – nothing to get in the way of their most memorable moments at the ballot box. Yolanda first voted when she was 19 and at university. She recalls, a bit sheepishly, the criteria she and her friends used to select their student council candidate: his looks. Today, three years later, she has different criteria…

Yolanda; My vote

My name is Yolanda, I’m 22 yrs old and I’m from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. I was 19 years old when I voted for the very first time. We were voting for the SRC.
My friends were voting, that’s what drove me to vote

In the queue when we were voting the candidates pictures were posted on the wall. As we looked at the posters we were laughing. We were picking at all the candidates, giving them points. We were ranking them and rating them and making fun of them. This is 1/10, this is 4/10, this 9/10.

Oh man I think the candidate that made us laugh had the biggest nose and he had big ears also at the same time. He was kinda like a caricature to us, we were laughing at him, we were picking at it and making fun of it.

Then we saw another poster of this handsome candidate. So he had this nice curly hair, beautiful skin, and his eyes, I think his eye made him unique, made him handsome. His face made the whole poster light up.

When a guy is handsome its easy for girls to get swayed. I was there in the queue with my friends and we all voted for him coz he was handsome. I believe none of my friends cheated but we all told each other we’re going to vote for this guy.

From my point of view he was handsome. I can’t say I had a crush. It was just that oooh, he’s handsome. We talked about it together b4 we voted, ‘Guys we cant have him ok, so we’re going to vote for him.

After I cast my vote for the good looking guy I realised he wasn’t the candidate I should have voted for. When I saw the other candidates, coz some of the other candidates had won, and they were actually doing something for us. So I just realised we made a mistake, we just voted for a face and he was actually doing nothing.

I was supposed to vote for a person who’s going to air my views. Who’s going to enlarge my voice, a person who was going to be of service to me, and I realised his face wasn’t going to be of service to me.

The other candidates had better policies, they had great manifestos, they knew the problems that students were encountering, but I was ignorant my friends were ignorant. We didn’t vote for them.

If I ever see a good looking candidate again, I won’t be swayed by his face, but I’m going to look at what the person is about. How is he going to serve me. I’m going to look at his party, where he’s coming from, read about them and know about them what they are. How are they going to help me, so that I can make an informed decision than before.

Even if he looks like Will Smith, I won’t vote for him, I won’t be swayed by the face. Even if he’s tall, is a hunk, no. That is how I’m going to cast my vote next time,

I’m voting for a better me, and a better country.

Hey! You can listen to Yolanda here

And, if you want to share your voting story get in touch with Shaun Matsheza at Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Email Shaun at: shaun.matsheza [at] rnw [dot] nl

Kubatana subscribers have been sharing their reports on the local environment as Zimbabwe gets ready for Harmonised Elections 31 July. In their own words:

• In farms in Bindura North we are being intimidated by Zanu PF with death and people are afraid for their lives. Where are observers because there are rallies daily in our area until election day.
• Guys there is a lot of fighting between Zanu PF candidates in Bikita West. People are being intimidated, the situation is so tense.
• Because of politicians who are inconsiderate of our education and solely concentrate on power, students are now being affected as they are now forced to close school on the 26th. How can we put the same person who ignores our concerns in power? Food for thought.
• In Bulawayo, Zanu PF has distributed tshirts and caps to all civil servants, whether you like or not, signalling beginning of intimidation.
• There is an advert on Radio Zimbabwe against hate speech and they are publishing speeches that were made by Morgan Tsvangirai and Tendai Biti. Now my question is, why are they not giving us reasons why those people came to say that, also I attended a rally yesterday in Vic Falls where Obert Mpofu used hate speech against Morgan Tsvangirai, and that will not be published. Is there justice there?
• Many people attend Zanu PF rally at Kuwadzana Holland because of artist that used be zanu for campaigning, i talk with several people and they say we are here becoz of sulu and jahprazy. And some they say cde betty kaseke will win at 31 July.
• Long queues are being noted at Wedza Police Station for those waiting to cast their special votes, so too at Sadza Police Post in Chikomba. But little did I know that there are so many police officers at these two stations.
• In Gweru Mkoba its so annoying to realise that our MP did noting with the funds meant 2 develop our community. I expected him to repair a water tank which has not been working 4yrs, to service high level areas instead of relying on NGOsto2 drill boreholes. He moves with a car worth 35 000.There is no hope in Zim
• Kuno Mutare south, Dora Dombo, villages (Mundembe & Bvirindi, chief Zimunya Bvirindi is forcing every house hold to attend to a Zanu PF rally being addressed by Pemhenai candidate for Zanu PF on Sat 13/07/2012.
• Here at Ngezi we are crying for Zanu pf strategy to cause the people of Turf complex of Zimplats Ngezi unregister. Please help us we want to vote for a better change. But PM @ our MDC officials you must have one rally at Ngezi mine pliz do us our   favour because we are tired of Zanu pf. We are here to vote for MDC-T.
• WeZanu wari kubvarura maposter eMDC vachiisa awo it shows hawana patrotism (Zanu supporters are tearing down MDC posters and putting up their, shows they have no patriotism)
• I live in my farm near Triangle pamberi nababa vedu vamugabe
• Why is it Mugabe ari kuda kuvandira kumapositori kwamarange (Why is Mugabe using members of the apostolic sect in Marange)
• Today 1hr ago Tabeth Kanengoni was mobilising people 2 vote 4 her on the coming election. She is Z.A.N.U.P.F Candidate for MP Mashonaland Central. Amai Gezi was there Chimukoko the mudert. They said if we loose, runoff & war. Why?
• MDC posters are being torn by Zanu so it shows kuti they are afraid the outcome
• Solders were wearing Zanu Pf regalia at Mutoko Growth Point they torn down MDC ~T that was worn by D KANYONGO in front of ten policemen who had come to solve the reported case
• All civil servants should vote on the special vote.
• I don’t know that our MP was given 50 thousand dollars such a big amount. No development in our constituency. People who were given money for projects were asked to return after use. In our ward we got nothing.
• Gutu district Masvingo province voters cant cast on their votes because ZEC failed to transport ballot papers in time up to now no ballot papers
• I stay in Ascot Gweru .The Gweru Urban MP, Rodrick Rutsvara did nothing for e benefit of e constituency instead he is using e funds to Build a Nite Club in Ascot
• Kutyisidzirwa kuMajongwe  kwanyanya  ward31  mt  north  mkumbura (Intimidation is high in Manjongwe ward 31 Mt North Mkumbura)
• Gutu west polling station Gatenel close at 1900hrs without ballot papers since 6am
• Chikomba East Constituency, Sadza Council Hall Polling Station – Voting in special voting started for Chikomba Central officers only. The rest are still waiting for ballot papers. Worrying is the presence of a white landrover truck without number plates being parked at the polling hall carrying on its sides&back posters of Zanu PF’s candidate for Chikomba Central, Felit T. Mbona.

I’ve just come back from a great night of theatre, thanks to the creativity and dedication of Rooftop Promotions.

Written by Stephen Chifunyise, Farai and Chipo in Love tells the story of two first-year university students and the pressure that love, sex, university life, the Zimbabwean economy and the job market bring to bear on their relationship. Add a wayward “Sekuru” with only one thing on his mind, and you’ve got the recipe for a drama that both delights and makes you cringe.

The cast of three, directed by Daves Guzha, draw the audience in and bring the material to life with great pace, energy and credibility. It’s a “play with a message,” but not one which is so heavy-handed or moralistic that it becomes tedious.

My greatest critique would be the poor turn out. The audience straggled in late, and maxed out at about 15 people by 7:10. So do yourself, and the production a favour. Bring your friends, bring your family, and get there!

Farai and Chipo in Love

Dates: 11 – 15 July
Time: 7pm
Cost: $5
Venue: Old Mutual Theatre, Alliance Francaise, 328 Herbert Chitepo Ave, Harare

For more information phone 0774-434245 or 0774-694373.

As Zimbabwe gets ready for elections 31 July, and special voting this weekend, our SMS subscribers have been sharing their thoughts and observations about the electoral environment. Here is some of their feedback:

• Hatisi kufara ne zviri kuitika kuno kuBudiriro uye nhau dziri kubuda mudzi nhepfenyuro dzino taura zvisizvo pamusoro pa Costa Machingauta. (We are not please about what is going on in Budiriro and the way the media (radio) is bringing out the issue of Costa Machingauta)
• Police officers are all wearing Zanu-pf regalia. What does that mean?
• It’s now time up!  People should stand up for their rights! Mazimbabwe hatisadya uroi nokunyara! (Zimbabweans we no longer want to evil against each other) Lets’ vote wisely!
• We want free and fair election 2 make some developments 2 our country. new plans 2 be beautiful Zimbabwe

In Harare? Wondering where to vote 31 July?
Use our clickable map of provisional polling stations for Zimbabwe 2013 Election.

Our country has for a long time now been a manufacturing pot for the redefinition of kleptocracy and dictatorship. All the extremes of bad and evil governance have been crafted in our backyard and I pray that in this information age such insanity should be well exposed and put to an end. All Zimbabweans should now appreciate that our independence in 1980 was just a transfer of colonial power from Smith’s dictatorship to a tougher and homegrown type of repression. Our election in 2 weeks time should be a show of protest and the right machine gun to bring this gluttonous oligarchy in Zimbabwe to an end.