By Paul Nyathi|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga says that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is delaying the announcement of the election date.

Speaking in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the official opening of the just ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo on Friday, Chiwenga said that government and the party are ready for the elections.

” President Mnangagwa is ready for the elections and even ready to announce the election date but is being delayed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission,” he said.

ZEC officers however say it is President Mnangagwa instead who must proclaim an election date.

“As soon as ZEC is done the president will announce the election date.”

ZEC is still invoiced in finalising the voters roll after undertaking an intensive voter registration exercise using the new biometric voter registration process.

According to the constitution, President Mnangagwa should have proclaimed the election date at least by the 28th of April.

Since the date has not yet been proclaimed, Mnangagwa now has the last thirty days within which he is expected proclaim the date.

Zimbabwe’s last election was held on the 31st of July 2018 with this election expected to be held by the 22nd of August at the latest.