By Dorrothy Moyo| Zimbabwe now has a total 118 parties participating in the upcoming 2018 elections.

The polls are set for July, according to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman.

The number of registered parties was revealed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission at an election reporting workshop in Gweru last week.

ZEC’s voter education director Mr Taurayi Gavi said 118 political parties have so far registered to participate.

He said the ZEC has not begun the screening of the 118 parties. Screening is required to ascertain if the applicants meet the required standards to compete in the polls. Gavi quoted by the state media said, “to date, we have 118 political parties that have written to ZEC expressing willingness to take part in the forthcoming elections. I would like to believe more are coming. We might have to accommodate all the 118 parties on a single ballot paper if they meet the required standards to contest.”