Zimbabweans all over the country continue to share their experience of voting in today’s constitutional referendum:

Never saw & taught of the constitutional contents why bothering 2 vote? Voter turnout very poor, Chivi area.

I am at Strathaven shops. Everything okay, people coming: all citizens black, yellow, brown, whites voting.

People don’t know what they are voting for but still they are going to vote becoz they were told to vote yes. It’s calm and peaceful at this side.

The voting of a new constitution in my constituency has been very overwhelming and also noted that some 16-17yr olds who wanted to vote were denied bcoz of age restrictions which really shows that today’s youth want to shape their future by actively exercising their right.

I am in Hatfield, Harare. I voted yes at Hatfield Junior School in the morning together with my wife. I have seen the levels of interest among voters. Of all people, young ladies and man, who have previously shunned local polls, were coming in numbers of unusual dimension. I also liked the long queues in Mbare when I later visited there. Great polling staff too.

Voting for the new constitution is going on very well here in Gokwe though the turnout is very low. People generally don’t know what are they voting for. The only people who are voting are the informed and the literate. No violence recorded so far.

It is not possible for the nation to vote ‘yes’ becoz at least half of the nation did not get the copy of the draft constitution therefore it is wise for the nation to vote ‘no’.

Voting @ Tokwe Primary School, Ward 11, Chivi South started on schedule @7am & by lunchtime some 300 had voted. Peace prevails with no political party activities visible on the ground.

Some people do not vote, is it ignorance or they do not know their rights?

Central Harare is unusually quiet. Most people seem to have taken this moment seriously & it’s a historic moment.

We’ve cast our votes for better change: we want better life not poverty.

What’s shocking in Masvingo West is that people a voting for something they do not know, they were simply told to vote “yes” by their respective parties and they doing just that without any knowledge of what their yes means. Voter turnout high.

People are voting in large numbers at Arcturus but 95% have never come across the Constitution including me.

Feedback coming in from Zimbabweans texting us about their experience of voting in the constitutional referendum:

The referendum is well organized and the ZEC staff is handling citizens in a professional manner. I’m in Ruwa.

I visited 5 polling stations here in Chinhoyi  and people were voting peacefully but the isue was they did not  get full update on the draft. Also young people need to be educated that they should go for vote turn out.

I voted early in the morning but after putting an x I was supposed to fold and showed it to the presiding officers  and I am not sure whether they have saw what I have voted for or not. I am saying so becoz papers are transparent. Thank you.

I won’t vote coz I never saw the so called constitution.

I’m in the Byo CBD. Moving around have seen short Q’s. Voter Apathy.

In Bikita East Ward 15 people are going to vote yes as per their parties instructions. Most say they want next election.

In Chiredzi a lot of people are not voting they said they don’t know what is in this referendum. Only a few people have acess to the media & read the leaflets wich were distributed. They don’t know what 2 vote 4. They don’t give people enough time & information.

In Nyanga the turn up is generally poor citing reasons that the populace lack knowledge on what they are voting for.

It is 12:05 my wife and I have just voted at Zhakata, Area 3, Dangamvura, Mutare, but I saw no other voters leaving nor coming to vote.

It seems Voter Educators did not do their jobs adequately, most of the people I have talked to did not even read the constitution. And most kids above 16 with ID are not aware that they are supposed to vote. Polling stations aren’t exactly overflowing here in Seke but people are steadily coming.

Kubatana is receiving feedback via Twitter, text messages and emails from Zimbabwean citizens:

The afternoon environment at Sadza council hall polling station (Command Centre) is calm&peaceful.The turnout is pleasing&has improved from that of the morning.I have managed to contact all the ERC ward coordinators to assess the atmosphere in their wards & all of them confirmed that there is peace in the polling centres & the turnout is high. Of concern is the presence of central intelligence operatives who are patrolling with cars with no number plates at Sadza Growth Point.Their cars are at times seen parked at the command centre.

I am in Braeside. I voted at Nettleton Junior School. I was in and out under five minutes. The atmosphere was so comforting and peaceful.

I went to vote at around 11am. Once more before going I ran through some pages of the draft constitution just to be sure. When I reached the polling station there were five people ahead of me, as I produced my ID and proceeded to get my paper to vote I felt really important. Everyone was excited. One old man had walked past the gate after voting when he realised that he was leaving his vehicle and quickly ran back to get into the vehicle. Such was the atmosphere where I voted.

I am eager to see whether the number of assisted voters in the referendum will be anything close to those who will be assisted in the election. I also live to see if the same peace will prevail when we cast our next vote. I also wish to find out if Headmen were on the fore, ticking names of those who voted in today’s ballot. Lastly, I wish to find out whether those who voted NO in this election will be sniffed out. Please help in establishing these facts.

Kubatana subscribers send in Zimbabwe Referendum feedback via SMS:

At Chinembiri Primary Chitungwiza. No queue, its a walk in and vote sphere. Manned by smiling ZRP members.

At Greystone Park officials outnumber the potential voters.Here everything is good but the problem is that we did not get anyone to teach us about the Constitution and we did not get any book to read. People are voting due to their party leaders who have said its good.

Home and not going any where.

I am at Maware Primary in Chikomba East very few people have cast their votes voter apathy seem to be the order of the day.

I am at Nyamazira, 70 km from Headlands. It is Manicaland province. A few people has come to vote because the COPAC outreach team did not come to our area and no one ever saw the finalised referendum we are supposed to vote for. Its guess work.

On the Zimbabwe Constitutional Referendum 16th March 2013

A national constitution is the supreme law by which a country and its people are governed. Every citizen and institution must live by, respect and defend this document. However, the genesis of this respect and defense must come from express support for the document from the people. We seek that endorsement today in Zimbabwe. Those that govern must do so with the consent of the governed, using instruments expressly endorsed by the governed. That is our agenda today. This referendum is not about politicians. It is about the people in their generality. It is a day for all citizens, the governed, to speak decisively and authoritatively on whether this draft constitution adequately captures how they want to be governed.

Let the people speak.

Arthur G.O.Mutambara
Deputy Prime Minister
Republic of Zimbabwe

These are messages coming in from Kubatana subscribers from around Zimbabwe:

Here in Masvingo town Sisk B/Centre as at 0900, there was no queue; people were voting peacefully; everything seemed to be in place.

I was at St Catherine near Newlands shops. The turnout was good. Environment good. Just pray for this environment on presidential.

I have noted with concern the freedom in Mbare. The process of voting is going on peacefully but yesterday people were forced/summoned to go to different ZANU PF bases to be given last minute instruction on the next day of voting for referendum. What I observed to be of intimidation matter was that people were told they should come to the bases after voting to register their names and if you do not do that they said they would link you to MDC and to be forcefully evicted from there houses and replace with pro ZANU PF supporters which is unlawful. To me this I don’t think its fair in what you call a democratic country.

Again on Thursday summons were distributed from what they called City of Harare they were send to houses in Jourburk lines in Mbare for overdue accounts, from reliable sources I am told summons to ZANU PF members were held by the party authorities in the area but if they suspect you are an MDC supporter or you are non partisan the summons were delivered. What I see is the party is trying to intimidate people ahead of the polls. On the same summons issue I was issued with one the copy I have it my dues are $1 400 and the one next door has a bill of $4 000 but since he is a pro ZANU no action – is this fair. You can investigate all issues I have highlighted above they are true. The party authorities in the area have photocopies of the voters roll. On the issue of City of Harare and overdue accounts I understand there is the issue of pay plan why cant they give residents chance to clear and again since the Council is dominated by MDC councilors why do they seem not to have a heart and approve summons which will make their party to be at a disadvantage with the residents.

I am in Mt Darwin. The situation is calm. Things are proceeding well. We pray for a future, which we hope, is being shaped today.

Here in Hwange there is low turnout of people.

Now at the poling station in Nyanga. Many people are voting. Talked to some, they are very happy for the new constitution. Hope to see positive results.

I m in Glen Norah B I voted by 7:30am @ Glen Norah High 2 School. Area very calm but a lot of people do not know what they are voting for especially women. The vote campaign didn’t reach people. No violence in Glen Norah or toyi toyi. I will be updating u on everything if confirm this email.

Very few people are voting. Voter apathy in Karoi town. People don’t know what to vote for Yes or No. The Draft was fast tracked to people

Am at Rimbi polling station; people are voting in peace but turn up is still low and is expected to increase with time.

The Sadza command centre polling station opened at exactly 0700 hrs. The voters started to trickle in to exercise their right. The environment here is calm & peaceful. I am expecting that by midday many people will have cast their votes. Some shops are closed as their owners are going to vote. The command centre is well manned by police officers.

Here in Chipinge, referendum is going well and I hope it will go the same through the day.

Nothing much is happening, only that people are not certain about the future ahead of either of the results, in Gaza, Chipinge.

I’m so unhappy our bosses did not excuse us from work to go and vote. Remember this is a national event and every vote counts. Such issues should be reviewed at national television and proper measures should be taken against such bosses. Am so unhappy.

Mash Central. Mazowe North. Mvurwi people are going 2 vote in numbers although no long queues.

Am in Chiredzi, Hippo Valley Mill. Low turnout corresponding to the number of population around the polling station, the environment is safe. Hope as time passes turnout will increase.

People are voting but as for the Seventh-day Adventist Church members, they are saying we are not going to vote, for we already have the law of God in the Bible.

I am in Mutare and have already voted. It’s so quiet in the city and people are voting peacefully. We thank God for that.

People have come in fairly large numbers especially the elderly I’m worried about the youth they are very reserved and view the voting system as an adult issue. Serious voter education is needed in our rural Plumtree.

In Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, the best peaceful elections so far!

In Zengeza there is a overwhelming response.

Aidah from Zaka; lots of people casting their votes.