The political situation in Zimbabwe has always been difficult. The 2023 elections added another problem. As people went to vote, reports came out that the ballot papers were late in many places. People started asking questions. Why were the papers delayed in the urban areas? It seemed like the delay affected those who were not supporters of the ruling party, ZANU PF.

Elections in Zimbabwe have always been full of tension. People talk about things not being fair. Every election seems to have problems. This year, the problem was late ballot papers in urban areas. Many people think this was not a mistake. They believe that someone wanted to stop urban voters from casting their votes because most of them do not like the ruling party, ZANU PF.

Urban voters are very important in Zimbabwe’s elections. Cities like Harare and Bulawayo are home to many people who do not agree with the ruling party. People in these areas are often more educated and have more access to the news. This year, people thought the number of voters from these areas would be very high, which was worrying for ZANU PF.

Urban voters do not just represent numbers. They are the people who often lead discussions about where the country is going. They are the business people, teachers, and other professionals who are tired of how things are going in the country. When ballot papers are late in these areas, it feels like their voices are not being heard.

Many stories came out of people waiting for hours to vote. In cities like Harare and Bulawayo, people stood in line only to be told that the papers had not arrived. Some people used social media to show their frustration. This made the issue bigger and got international attention.

A woman from Harare, Mai Tendai, shared her story. She waited for five hours. They kept telling her and others that the papers were coming. As the sun began to set, people lost hope. She said this felt just like other elections in the past.

Groups that watch the elections closely, like the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), also shared their concerns. They said that urban areas got ballot papers late while rural areas got them early. They said this was a sign that someone was trying to make it hard for city people to vote.

ZANU PF, the ruling party, said they had nothing to do with the problem. Their spokesperson said that giving out ballot papers is the job of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The spokesperson said that ZANU PF only wanted to win the support of people in both rural and urban areas. But this statement did not stop people from questioning what had happened. ZANU PF has never had a good relationship with urban voters, and this problem made people even more suspicious.

People outside Zimbabwe were also watching. Countries that care about democracy saw the delays as a big issue. Some leaders from other countries spoke out, asking Zimbabwe to look into what happened. The European Union, which sent a team to watch the elections, said that the delay was worrying. They said that Zimbabwe wants to rebuild its image and make good relationships with other countries, but things like this do not help. They said every voter’s voice should be heard, whether they live in the city or the countryside.

We still do not know the final results of the elections, but one thing is clear: the 2023 elections will be remembered. The problems with ballot papers have made people doubt if the elections were fair. As the country deals with these issues, it is a reminder of how important it is to have elections that are open and fair.

No matter what happens, Zimbabweans are showing that they are strong. They want change, and they will keep fighting for a better future.