Harare (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Monday dismissed reports that it is recalling election agents and observers to sign new polling station return (V.11) forms.

Party agents, election observers and ZEC officials sign V.11 forms after ballots are counted at polling stations to certify the result.

The forms are then posted outside the polling station as a public record, and it is these forms that are produced in court when a party disputes the results of an election.

“The 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 result forms. The Commission would like to inform the public that the said reports are false,” said ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana.

He said the polling stations 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 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,” he explained.

Zimbabweans voted in harmonised elections on Wednesday and on Thursday in a few areas where ZEC had failed to deliver election materials on time.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa won a second term with 52.6 percent of the vote, beating his closest rival Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change who garnered 44 percent.

His ruling Zanu PF party won 136 out of the 210 National Assembly seats while the Chamisa lead CCC took 73, with election for the remaining seat in Gutu West constituency still pending after one of the contestants died shortly before the polls were held.

New Ziana