By Talent Gondo|Social media reports indicating that Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Retired Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Busi Moyo announced 18 July 2018 as the election date are not true, ZimEye can confirm.

Minister Moyo is alleged to have made the pronouncement when he was speaking at Chatham House in London where he made a presentation on the government’s plans for re-engagement and renewal of Zimbabwe’s international economic relations.

According to an official tweet by Chatham House which went viral, Minister Moyo announced that Zimbabwe will hold its polls on 18 July 2018 pledging government commitment to an open and transparent democratic process which guarantees a credible, free and fair election.

Read the tweet, “HE Sibusiso Moyo – Elections on July 18, 2018, will reaffirm our commitment to openness & transparency.

The #Zimbabwe government will apply rules & standards for holding free and fair elections in a peaceful, violence-free environment. We welcome international observers #CHAfrica”.

Zimbabweans took to social media expressing their dismay at the announcement by the retired army General who is popular for announcing that the former President Robert Mugabe was safe during the military takeover in Zimbabwe which saw the ascendancy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power.