First time voter: A personal experience

The first time for everything is always a memorable experience. Most female students around the country cast their votes for the first time in the 31^st of July this year. Female students have described the experience as extremely amazing.

Here is how Mildred Chamboko, a first time voter female student voter describes the experience:

As I woke up in the in the wee hours of the morning of the 31^st of July, I could feel that it was a defining moment in my life. I am usually very lazy to get out of bed especially if it’s cold, but on that day, I woke up at exactly 5 am.

Because I was so eager to do it for the first time, I shrugged off the cold weather, brushed my teeth, grabbed my Identity Card and registration slip and together with my brother, who was also a first timer, went out to exercise our right.

I did not even eat my breakfast because I wanted to be the first person to cast a vote at Warren Park Primary School.  To my surprise, over a hundred people were already standing in the queue! We decided to go and check the other polling station which was at Warren Park 1 High School. The queue was much better and we decided to join it.

Although at first the queue was moving at a tortoise pace, we waited patiently for our turn. I witnessed some “special citizens” such as the elderly and pregnant women, mothers who had brought their and the disabled being made to jump the queue, but I still waited tolerantly.

I then decided to go back home for a while and eat my breakfast because my stomach was now grumbling yet there were still about seventy people in front of me. I was constantly communicating with my brother to find out how close we now were because I wanted to make sure I did not miss my first time.

I then went back to the polling station, and as I entered the classroom where people were voting, I was asked for my ID and registration slip for back up. They check my finger to see if I had not voted anywhere else.

 All this time my heart was pounding heavily because I was thinking: What is my name is not found in the voters ‘roll and what if there is an error in on the registration slip, what if I will not be able to vote?

I let out a big sigh of relief when my name was found on the voter’s roll. I was then given three ballot papers, I felt excited that I was going to cast my vote. I then dipped my little pinkie finger into the pink ink, and went behind the ballot box.

I never felt so important in my whole life as I put an “X” on my favourite candidates. It was a moment of glory and I can’t help but recall it over and over again. When I was done, I folded the papers and put them in the appropriate boxes. As I went out of the classroom I felt like I could fly with pride. I had finally exercised my right as a citizen. Thanks to Female Students Network for they encouraged not me only but hundred other female students to vote. It was a magnificent experience and it felt so good. It is also a wonderful thought that my vote was counted. ***********************

Meanwhile other female students who also voted in the recent elections also described the experience as marvellous.

“My first time was so good. I felt like I was special. Standing in that little box all by self and putting in X on my favourite candidate was an out of this world experience. I really felt I like an important citizen exercising her right, “said Buhle Mambo, a second year Development studies student at the Midlands State University.

Another female student Olivia Moyo from Great Zimbabwe University said” I was just thrilled to have to be part of the voting process. I felt really good because you know you have the power to shape your destiny by voting for the person you think will provide solutions for the country. I don’t know why I did not register to vote in 2008. It was an awesome experience.”