By Own Correspondent| The MDC T Representative to the EU, Grace Kwinjeh has implored the country’s elections body the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to walk the talk on ensuring a free, fair and credible election.
Kwinjeh said it was very unfair for the ZEC to avail the voters roll to foreign embassies while opposition political parties were being denied access to it
“ZEC has consistently refused to avail the electronic copy of the voters’ roll to the MDC Alliance, in particular, our Presidential Candidate Advocate Nelson Chamisa despite persistent requests,” said Kwinjeh..
“It has come to our attention that despite Justice Priscilla Chigumba’s claims that presidential candidates are a priority, independent National Assembly candidates, civil society organisations and some foreign embassies have already been given the electronic voters’ roll,” she said.
Kwinjeh said it was very unfair of ZEC to deprive Advocate Nelson Chamisa of a copy of the roll despite that he has made repeated requests to have the roll.
“Advocate Chamisa remains without access despite making repeated requests in terms of the guidelines issued by ZEC.
We condemn the shifting of positions by ZEC regarding making available the voters roll to all political parties and candidates,” she said.
Kwinjeh also castigated the ZEC for its partisan distribution of the voter’s roll urging the elections body to abide by the Electoral Act.
“We also condemn the selective and partial manner in which the voters’ roll has been issued to selected actors. We urge ZEC to abide by the Electoral Act and not be in contempt of the court’s decision ordering it to avail the voters’ roll to candidates on nomination.
The history of our struggle for political reform in Zimbabwe has not just been to remove the incompetent incumbent, it continues to be a battle for a level playing field and laying a permanent foundation for democratic processes,” she said.
Kwinjeh said for the upcoming elections to be legitimate, free, fair and credible, there is need for high levels of impartiality from all observer missions.
“We urge observers to exercise caution and avoid being used by ZEC to legitimise its deplorable acts,” she said.