Well, that was dismal. Almost as exciting as the election of the new Pope! There were more people administering the referendum than people to vote in it. What this most says to me – the people think the politicians (and politics) are irrelevant.

Legislation. What is it for? There was new legislation recently about some new sticker on the back of pick-ups. Where did that come from? Do the police know or understand it, or is it an excuse to solicit bribes at roadblocks?

In a previous blog, I wrote about spending time stopped on Chiremba Road. I never did find out what, if any, ‘offense’ I had committed, under any legislation.

There is new legislation on fuel costs. Who will enforce this?

I read an article in the Mail and Guardian some weeks back, about 450 vehicles (new/ secondhand/used Japanese imports) a day crossing the border. None of it legal. None of it having duty paid for. And the local car industry was collapsing. This is SERIOUS lack of law enforcement, with SERIOUS consequences for Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwean jobs. Not to mention unsafe vehicles all over the roads, killing people.

There is no rule of law in Zimbabwe. So why must we go out there to dip our fingers in ink to agree, or disagree with a new law? (That is all a constitution is. Basic law.) And who did vote? At another meeting today, one guy there, was the only one of 8 in his office that voted. That is a 12 1/2 percent turnout.

But it all stems from our leaders. They have shown us this is the way it is to be done.

In my case, the Registrar General, Tobaiwa Mudede, should be in jail. He was handed a court order in 2002 ordering him, within seven days, to announce the results of my election. He has never done so. He is in contempt of court. The law says, if you fail to comply with a court order, you will go to jail until you do. It has never been done. Mudede should have been in jail for the last ten years. Yet he is running a senior government office. Taking pay.

Where is the law in Zimbabwe?

The head of the ZNA (treasonous fellow), declares who he will salute, and who he will not salute. As if the army belonged to him, and not the people of Zimbabwe! He will salute who he feels like, and not who the people of Zimbabwe tell him to salute. However, instead of the law taking its course (for treason you get hanged by the neck until dead), this man is still head of Zimbabwe’s Army.

Where is the law in Zimbabwe?

We live in medieval China of the warlords. The Wild West. Harry Potter world, in the last book, where the ministry has collapsed. This is fantasy. Legislature has been made irrelevant, just as the justice system has been made irrelevant. Only power exists.

So why should we get out and vote for something irrelevant?

Standing in the referendum queue was a jab  and casting my  “yes” a hook. And queuing in the Elections will be a ferocious uppercut to all who underestimate my power to effect change.

I live in Hwedza South. On Referendum Day people were quite eager to cast their votes. Admittedly most did not read nor did they even see the document but the better devil to choose was to move away from the old constitution. On the side lines of polling places most were saying they cast a YES vote. Most people are however expressing great concern at why the names & ID Nos are taken down before one can be allowed to cast as this could easily be cross – checked should the need to victimise arise.

Most people do not know 99% of the draft constitution: only land and gay was talked about to the people especially in Zvimba.

I didn’t vote and did not pay it attention. Did not want to increase voter turn out and no motivation whatsoever to participate in a process in which the people ceased to be drivers in any capacity so long ago.

I went to vote yesterday. Early to avoid the crowds! I got ink on my left pinkie finger, all the way up to the second joint. Seems they have a lot of ink, and don’t expect many people to come to put it on. I bet they were right.

There was no trouble voting. Metal ID (which says citizen of course), they wrote my name, next desk gave me a voting slip, next desk inked my finger (the only desk with only one person on it), I went to the booth and marked my paper (my vote is secret), went to the ballot box, showed the next desk the folded slip with the stamp on it and put it in the box.

Before lunch, I went to my afternoon engagement. Spotted several polling stations along the way. One had six people waiting, another had 20 people. I am guessing the station I voted in might get 1000 voters. There are three polling stations in my ward, and 18 000 voters. If each station gets 1000, that is 3000 voting out of the 18000. That is a 16 percent turnout, by very rough guess, and nothing scientific about it.

No one came for a nothing document.

Credit: Mark Attwood

Citizen feedback coming in via text messages:

Very,very low turn out. Asked some women and they said they don’t know what they are voting for.

CHEGUTU-PEOPLE-VOTING-PEACEFULLY, BUT-DON’T-KNOW-WHAT-THEY-ARE-VOTING-FOR.

Turn out was bad in Mutare.

We went for the referendum; our children & us still have hunger and suffering just like in the book Animal Farm. Clearing a path 4 someone to enjoy while we suffer: no jobs.

The majority of the masses in Byo high dens.sub say are not voting because they haven’t seen the new Constitution and its contents.

Mvuma Constituency has been hit by very serious voter apathy. As of 1630, 3 polling stations had no voters at sight. This is caused by lack of voter education.

Am observing in MUDZI ward 5. No reports of violence.

Here in Bikita South the voter turn out was low because voters don’t know what they are voting 4.

In Zvimba West some politically driven Kraal Heads have been subjecting citizens to line-up behind them at the polls.

History repeats itself. Lobengula voted for what he did not understand. Most Zimbabweans voted for what they do not understand.

There is voter apathy.

Where I have voted, there was very few people.

Am in Hotsprings we never saw a copy of draft constitution, but we are voting.

Chipinge central, ward 2, people are voting peaceful, sharing jokes even with well known thugs who used to harass people.

Low turn out. People cite inaccessibility of draft. So don’t know what to vote for. Feel being taken 4 a ride. Enthusiasm missing. Buhera West ward 3.

There is rampant voter apathy here in Chegutu.

People at Golden Valley & Patchway have come out in large numbers to vote & most of them voted yes, the reason was because both parties said we should vote yes.

Am in Highfield, few people cast their votes but majority are not interested, they seem not to put value into it. More education on voting is required.