The civic society organisations questioned ZEC’s transparency as well saying the chaos that rocked the special voting system which ran from July 14-15 could be a deliberate ploy to influence the outcome of the next election.
The special voting process saw some centres opening late due to late delivery of ballot papers which saw a number of police officers being unable to vote.
The spokesperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a coalition of 350 civic society organisations, Thabani Nyoni, blamed ZEC for misinforming the electorate on its state of preparedness for the next elections.
“The way ZEC has conducted the special voting so far has convinced even the doubting Thomases that delivering a credible election to the people of Zimbabwe will be a miracle. The people of Zimbabwe de-serve a full explanation before an apology,” said Nyoni.
An estimated 69 000 police officers, 2000 prison officers, 164 soldiers and ZEC officials have reportedly applied to vote under the special voting process.
MDC-T President, Morgan Tsvangirai has since launched a High Court appeal challenging the number of uniformed forces under the special voting system.
The Youth Agenda Trust, in a statement passed a vote of no confidence concerning ZEC’s efficiency and preparedness for the elections.
YAT alleged ZEC could be pushing a sinister agenda of rigging the next elections in favour of Zanu (PF).
YAT is also disturbed to note that ZEC was not even able to open polling stations on time, provide enough voting material and was seriously understaffed. As Youth Agenda, we feel that the chaos that we saw was stage managed and deliberately created to manipulate the outcome of the elections.
“YAT is also now convinced that information circulating in the media that ZEC and the Registrar General’s office are working with a shadowy Israeli organisation to rig the July 31 elections is true and that the two government entities are not willing to conduct a free and fair election,” said the youth organisation.
Post published in: News