Party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said information they gathered indicated that the police have applied to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to have the number of postal ballots increased to 60 000.
In the March 29 elections only 8 000 requested to use the postal ballot. Â
“We don’t know why the number has to increase by such a huge margin. Nothing has changed since the last election and we will do our best to stop it. The only challenge we have is that no police officer is prepared to come out and confess for fear of victimisation,” said Chamisa.
Under the Electoral Act, only police officers deployed on duty away from their voting constituencies as well as civil servants on duty outside the country, are allowed to vote by postal ballot. Â
“We have since written to ZEC advising them about our fears and we hope they will take note. But you should also understand that ZEC itself is now not in charge of this election. ZANU-PF has taken over, they are prepared to remain in power at whatever cost,” said Chamisa.
He said the violence going on around the country has also affected ZEC officials and a number of them face prosecution for the mere reason that President Robert Mugabe lost to the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the March 29 poll. Â
“The vampire instincts of ZANU-PF have come out and there will be more violence until 27 June. Â
“But the people of Zimbabwe should not lose hope because the darkest hour is always before dawn. A new Zimbabwe is on the way whatever tricks the regime might use, they will come to nothing. We spoke on March 29 and we will speak again come June 27,” said Chamisa.
The postal ballots that our sources said was likely to be extended to include spouses of soldiers and police officers, is expected to raise at least 50 000 postal votes for Mugabe.
Police spokesman Assistant Commission Wayne Bvudzijena yesterday denied that the police were planning to rig the presidential run-off election by making spouses and children vote for Mugabe by postal ballot. Â
There was no immediate comment from the ZEC or ZANU-PF on the alleged plan by the police to sway the June 27 vote in favour of Mugabe —CAJ News.
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