MDC accuses govt of rural election fraud

which revealed serious flaws in the election process for the upcoming Rural District Councils General Elections.
Problems with obtaining nomination forms, passport-sized photographs and police clearance in the limited nine-day period before the sitting of the nominations court, made it incredibly difficult for candidates to stand for the elections which take place in October.
Along with difficulties in obtaining a passport photograph, candidates from rural areas have to travel to Harare to obtain police clearance, which costs $2,000. In addition to that fingerprint forms are required for the clearance. Many police stations have neither the forms nor the ink for fingerprints to be taken, so even if the forms are purchased from an independent supplier, there is no ink and many police stations refuse to fingerprint candidates because they do not have the receipt books and therefore refuse to take the fingerprinting fee. Misihairabwi-Mushonga said that under the circumstances it was “impossible” to hold a free and fair election and that the election was “nothing but an ambush”.
In addition to this there has been no voter registration inspection, which the Electoral Commission is bound to carry out by law prior to the nomination process. MDC staff have also been unable to access voters’ rolls at various advertised offices. “The absence of voters’ rolls makes it impossible for aspiring candidates to check whether their potential nominations are in fact registered voters,” said Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
The ruling regime has also tried to make things more difficult for other candidates by releasing conflicting information over the date of exactly when the nomination court will sit. As a consequence MDC candidates will be at court on both advertised days to ensure that they are registered.
Pishai Muchauraya the Tsvangirai MDC spokesperson for Manicaland deplored the way government has disseminated information concerning the elections saying ‘there is no proper information being given about the elections except dates for inspection and the nomination court’.
‘For all we know this could be a trap by Zanu (PF) officials. That’s why we insist to have that amendment in writing from the Registrar-General. We fear if we disperse our candidates now, all Zanu (PF) will do is register their candidates Friday and have them duly elected with no other nominations received from opposition candidates. We have seen this happen before, so we know,’ Gabuza said. – Own correspondent