By Farai D Hove| The British embassy in Harare’s tweet saying it has managed to obtain an electronic copy of the voters’ roll, pulled loud attacks yesterday.
The former colonial power has for a while been accused by the opposition for allegedly supporting ZANU PF.
It's True British Embassy's Tweet Advised Zim Opposition To Be Patient With ZEC, But Does That Mean They Are ZANU PF?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 19, 2018
Yesterday angers flared. “How would they feel if they were told the Zimbabwean embassy in London has obtained their own voters roll copy before they are given access to it several weeks after being clearly dodged?,” asked one MDC activist only identified by the handler Juice Card.
He continued saying that the embassy tweet clearly advised Zimbabweans to be patient with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC.
So what does that mean, and is there any connection to politics?
It emerged at the end of day yesterday that many local opposition activists and NGOs had also managed to obtain the voters roll. These include Zimbabwe election support network.
Upon an investigation it turned out that those who were denied the copy had not followed the documented procedure. The document has since been reprinted and highlighted.
The embassy in statement explained saying “we were not the first in the queue this morning. Others joined us. We were not the first to get the roll. We understand that some candidates are also now in possession of the roll.” Below a series of their tweets late Monday:
Today we managed to access a copy of the voters’ roll from @ZECZim offices. Our official went there early this morning, queued, paid 20 US and came back with a copy.
— UKinZimbabwe ?? ?? (@UKinZimbabwe) June 18, 2018
We tweeted out about this because on Friday, our ambassador also
tweeted out our intense disappointment that the candidates spoken to had not been able to access the roll. We needed to see whether it was available (and not just to foreign embassies)— UKinZimbabwe ?? ?? (@UKinZimbabwe) June 18, 2018
We were not the first in the queue this morning. Others joined us. We
were not the first to get the roll. We understand that some candidates are also
now in possession of the roll.— UKinZimbabwe ?? ?? (@UKinZimbabwe) June 18, 2018
Some parties have not received a copy of the roll. If this is a deliberate
policy by ZEC this is unacceptable & we will continue to raise it. We met @nelsonchamisa last week & understood from him how crucial the voters roll is to all political parties. That's why we raise it.— UKinZimbabwe ?? ?? (@UKinZimbabwe) June 18, 2018
Today’s tweet has nothing to do with whitewashing the election or jumping to declare it free and fair. This is about being an observer, and saying what we see. We were given a voters’ roll by @ZECZim and others have been issued with a copy.
— UKinZimbabwe ?? ?? (@UKinZimbabwe) June 18, 2018
We now eagerly await – as everyone will – the results of the independent audit of the voters' roll.
— UKinZimbabwe ?? ?? (@UKinZimbabwe) June 18, 2018
As we’ve said repeatedly, Zimbabweans must be free to choose the leader of their choice in a free and fair election. This country’s future depends on that – and that’s all we want to see.
@FCOHumanRights @foreignoffice
— UKinZimbabwe ?? ?? (@UKinZimbabwe) June 18, 2018