By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has issued a statement alleging fears of vote rigging through postal ballot by members of the force.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Commander ZRP 2018 Harmonised Elections Committee, Erasmus Makodza revealed that only 4 000 members of the force had applied for postal voting.

Below is the full text of the statement issued by the ZRP:

ZRP PRESS STATEMENT 12 JULY 2018
POSTAL VOTING BY POLICE OFFICERS

The Zimbabwe Republic Police wishes to set the record straight and allay fears of vote rigging by police officers as claimed in some social media messages which are circulating.

The correct position is that some police officers will be performing security duties in other provinces which are not their normal work stations. Thus in terms of Section 72 of the Electoral Act, the concerned police officers will exercise their right to vote through the postal ballot system which is being administered by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Some provinces like Bulawayo have excess manpower which is due for deployment in Matabeleland North province thus necessitating the postal vote for the affected members.

Infact the total number of police officers who applied for the postal ballot does not go beyond 4000. The rest of police officers will actually cast their ballots on 30th July 2018 as earlier revealed by the ZRP command and ZEC in numerous meetings and workshop briefings.

The whole process is conducted according to Section 75 of the Electoral Act, Chapter 2:13.