A woman (1st L) casts her ballot at a polling station in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 26, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

Zimbabwe held a crucial one-day parliamentary and local government by-election on Saturday which was characterized by a low voter turnout in many constituencies.

The by-elections, which had been set aside due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were to choose parliamentary and local government representatives in 28 parliamentary constituencies and 122 local government jurisdictions across the country.

Most constituents fell vacant when opposition lawmakers were recalled in a battle over the control of the country's largest opposition party, the MDC-T.

Polling in the by-elections, in which 16 political parties were contesting, opened at 7 am and were closed by 7 pm.

In the capital Harare, where 16 parliamentary seats were up for grabs, the voter turnout was low.

"People, especially the youths, are not coming to vote," an official from the national elections authority, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), told state news agency NewZiana.

No incidents of violence were reported by mid-day, with ZEC only reporting minor infringements of the electoral act by voters who were taking pictures of their cast votes.

Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said no report of violence had been made to law enforcement agencies by mid-day.

"So we have not received reports of violence, intimidation or threats so far," said Nyathi.

The polls are seen as a rehearsal for next year's harmonized elections.

The major contestants, the ruling ZANU-PF party led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa will face off against the newly formed main opposition, the Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa.

ZANU-PF already controls parliament with a two-thirds majority after winning 145 seats from the available 210 seats in the August 2018 elections.

People queue up to vote at a polling station in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 26, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

 

A staff member works at a polling station in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 26, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

 

A staff member checks body temperature of a voter at a polling station in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 26, 2022.Photo:Xinhua

 

A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 26, 2022.Photo:Xinhua