Reports received from most areas indicate that ZANU-PF operatives have been conducting what they called 'Operation Handigone Kuvhota,' or 'Operation I can't vote.'

People were being force marched in 'cells' to the polling stations where they were to say that they are either blind or could not write and would require assistance to vote. They were then made to openly state to a polling agent who their candidate of choice was.

In Mbare, a caller told us that they were all taken to a local ZANU-PF base the previous night, where their names were taken down and they were forced to chant ZANU-PF slogans. They were also divided into cells with each cell having an appointed chairman to lead them to the polling stations where they voted with assistance.

They were also told to return to the base camp after voting where they were warned that if any votes had been cast for Morgan Tsvangirai the entire would be punished and severely beaten.

He told us that two of his friends have been chased away from their homes for being suspected MDC supporters and they are now living on the streets.

In Chipinge Central, people were also forced to go to the polls and ask for assistance when voting. One caller told us how they too were herded in cells to the polling stations.

In Chitungwiza, in the lead up to the elections, people have been dragged to torture camps and those who were suspected MDC supporters had their houses invaded and in many cases were robbed. We were told that criminals in the area are taking advantage of this situation and stealing.

As in many areas, the caller confirmed that serial numbers were being recorded so votes could be 'checked' after voting. He said that the police have been 'toothless' in preventing the beatings, thefts and other criminal activities that are being associated with this election.

Meanwhile in Victoria Falls, where the turnout was also low, things were relatively peaceful. A caller told us that when he visited the polling stations the polling agents and police outnumbered the voters, and unlike previous election days there was no early morning rush to vote.

Victoria Falls is an MDC stronghold and most voters stayed away from the polls. There was no apparent intimidation taking place, and the only signs he saw of ZANU-PF presence was in the town where youths were handing out fliers, and putting up posters.

He described voting in Vic Falls today as being calm, and said that many people had expressed their disappointment at Morgan Tsvangirai's decision to withdraw from the elections as they wanted an opportunity to openly show their support for the MDC. He said that he thought the peace and lack of intimidation in Vic Falls might have been reluctance on the part of the state to generate negative publicity in the town as it relies entirely on tourism.

While it is apparent that the state is relying heavily on votes for Mugabe being cast through their Operation Handigone Kuvhota, Masimba Kuchera, who is visually impaired, recently filed a Supreme Court application, along with 5 other people asking for the right to vote with the assistance of a person of their choice. This week they filed a certificate of urgency to make sure that their case was heard before the elections, and on Wednesday a statutory instrument was released saying that should be given the option of voting with an assistant of their choosing.

Many people have described being forced to ask for assistance to vote through Operation Handigone Kuvhota, but according to Masimba the Supreme Court ruled this week that those needing help should have had the option of bringing an assistant of their choice. The state newspaper The Herald published this statute in their Friday edition, and yet the state was still forcing people to get assistance from polling agents in Friday's voting, in order to ensure that they voted for Mugabe.