By Paul Nyathi|In a move set to add to voter apathy, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has said people with artificial nails will not be allowed to vote.

Zimbabwean young women are very particular with their nails and other such beauty accessories and may decide to opt out of voting instead of removing the artificial nails and nail polish that cost them sometimes up to hundreds of dollars.

Zec Commissioner Dr Qhubani Moyo advised the women with these artificial nails and nail polish to get rid of it if they intended to vote.

“All registered voters should be warned that they will not be allowed to cast their ballots with fake nails or nail polish or any such cosmetic additions which will hinder identification,” said Dr Moyo in an interview with state media on Wednesday.

He said the ban of manicure and nail polish was in order to ensure that the ink was in contact will natural skin and nail bed.

“This is meant to expose the original body parts. It is for the purposes of inking and as such we urge women out there who are intending to cast their ballots on July 30 to come prepared in order to avoid disappointment,” he said.

“The ink is meant to stay for a long time to prevent individuals from voting more than once but if one has fake nails or nail polish he or she can wash it off or remove nails,” said Dr Moyo.

Dr Moyo said this confirming social media messages that have been circulating during he past few days, that women with artificial nails or nail polish will not be allowed to vote.

He however dismissed as untrue that women will be asked to remove artificial hair or that they will be forced to wash off face creams before voting.