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.

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.