Rodrick Fayayo, the Co-ordinator of the BPRA, said the residents association was currently leading voter education campaigns in Bulawayo and had set up systems to play the role of election observers.
“We are ready to play the role of election observers. We want to apply for election observer status and monitor the elections to ensure that the voices of the residents of Bulawayo and beyond are respected,” Fayayo said.
He added that the BPRA was convinced that ZEC would grant them an election observer status as the residents’ body currently enjoyed ‘good relations with the electoral body.’
“We have created a very good relationship with ZEC and we hope to carry on from there. We are in touch with ZEC on our voter education awareness programmes,” he added.
Zanu (PF) has declared that no observers from Western countries will be permitted to observe this year’s vote. Recently, a joint civil society delegation from Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe called on the Southern African Development Community to dispatch an early warning team to monitor current political developments in Zimbabwe ahead of the elections.
The delegation said there was need to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe as current developments seemed to indicate an emerging trend in political violence, arrests and intimidation; especially those related to sprouting militia groups and other state security institutions.
Post published in: News