Masvingo province voters went out to exercise their democratic rights at various polling station with the environment declared as peaceful.

Masvingo Provincial Elections Officer Zex Zirabada Pudurai said it was peaceful with a huge turnout recorded in the morning.

“The process was very peaceful, people came out in their numbers. Huge numbers were recorded in the morning but by lunch hour there were sporadic attendanced but overally it was a very peaceful election that I have witnessed.”

Polling stations opened at 7am with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in a press release confirming 100 percent opening status for the province.

In an interview Bridget Charumbira a first time voter said she was delighted to exercise her right and vote for leaders of her choice.

“As a first time voter I am very happy to be able to cast my vote today. I was able to vote without any glitches and I was able to exercise my human rights.”

Echoing the same sentiments another first time voter who arrived early at Vurumbo Primary School in Masvingo Urban Constituency ward 6 Tatenda Nyandoro said he was excited to cast his vote for the first time.

As at 3pm the Masvingo Command Center had recorded 246 404 voters, 110 426 being men while 135 978 were women for five districts.

Chiredzi recorded 40 884 men and 43 055 women, Chivi had 10 971 men and 14 222 women. Masvingo had recorded 16 496 men and 17 649women. Mwenezi had 13 525 men and 17 858 women and Zaka had 28 550 men and 43 194 women

At least 1 415 voters were re-directed while 2 151 were turned away. A total of 15 407 had been assisted to vote in the five districts by 3pm.