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Mnangagwa says elections will go on without Chamisa
16 Mar 2018 at 08:55hrs | Views
MDC leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday received a slap in the face from President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the issue of boycotting the 2018 elections in protest for electoral reforms.
Chamisa's aides during the week threatened to boycott the upcoming elections saying the MDC will not participate if Mnangagwa does not conduct electoral reforms. The MDC has demanded that among other things Mnangagwa must allow an audit of the voters' roll, access to the electoral database, and an inclusion in the processing of votes.
Two days ago Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora demanded that an audit of the voters' roll must allowed pre and post election. Soon after that other MDC officials sounded that they would boycott the elections if Mnangagwa does not heed their calls.
But responding on the matter yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the elections will go on without any party that decides to boycott the polls. He said he will not lose any sleep.
He said, "the opposition is there to oppose. Whatever you do they have to find a reason to oppose it but that doesn't worry me. I will not lose sleep over those who would want to boycott because that's a democratic decision. "
He then promised free and fair elections. He added saying, "however, that's not the issue, the issue is whether there is a party that doesn't subscribe to fair, transparent, peaceful and credible elections. This is what we want to achieve."
Chamisa's aides during the week threatened to boycott the upcoming elections saying the MDC will not participate if Mnangagwa does not conduct electoral reforms. The MDC has demanded that among other things Mnangagwa must allow an audit of the voters' roll, access to the electoral database, and an inclusion in the processing of votes.
Two days ago Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora demanded that an audit of the voters' roll must allowed pre and post election. Soon after that other MDC officials sounded that they would boycott the elections if Mnangagwa does not heed their calls.
But responding on the matter yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the elections will go on without any party that decides to boycott the polls. He said he will not lose any sleep.
He said, "the opposition is there to oppose. Whatever you do they have to find a reason to oppose it but that doesn't worry me. I will not lose sleep over those who would want to boycott because that's a democratic decision. "
He then promised free and fair elections. He added saying, "however, that's not the issue, the issue is whether there is a party that doesn't subscribe to fair, transparent, peaceful and credible elections. This is what we want to achieve."
Source - online
