Simbarashe Mtembo
MIRROR REPORTER

BIKITA-Polling officers and agents in Bikita for last week’s general elections were allegedly dragged from their homes on Monday around 2 am to supposedly recount ballot papers and sign new V11 forms.
A Mirror team went to Bikita Training Centre where the district elections command centre was is housed and witnessed polling officers going through verification processes.
Bikita Elections Officer, William Mashavave told The Mirror that presiding officers were summoned to the command center to capture voter demographics.
“Polling officers were summoned to capture voter demographics, that is to say how many men, women, youth voted. There is no recounting going on,” he said.
The Mirror is also informed that the exercise took place in several other districts across the country.
A text message sent to presiding officers seen by The Mirror says that their meeting is a matter of urgency.
“Presiding officers of the following polling stations in Bikita east should report at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) office Nyika tomorrow (Monday) at 0630 latest without fail… Take this as a matter of urgency,” reads part of the text message.
Polling officers and agents who spoke to The Mirror however, said they were being forced to sign new V11 forms.
They said they were dragged from their homes around 2 am and taken to the command centre in unregistered vehicles.
“I received a text message around … ordering me to come to the command centre the next day. They made us sign several different forms. The centre had many president’s office (CIO) operatives and the environment was tense.
“Some agents were actually dragged from their homes around 2 am and were made to wait at the centre until around 3 pm when ZEC officials were done dealing with polling officers,” said the source.
ZEC dismissed the matter on its Twitter handle.
“ZEC notes with concern reports circulating on social media to the effect that election agents and observers are being re-called to sign new V.11 forms. The Commission would like to inform the public that the said reports are false.
“The polling station returns (V.11 forms) form part of election residue and copies are sealed in ballot boxes soon after the counting of ballots is completed at the polling station. The said ballot boxes are not to be opened by any person until the time specified in the law for their opening and disposal of the contents except by order of the Electoral Court,” reads the statement.