Danha insists on Chigumba resignation

LEADER of the #1980 Freedom Movement, Francis Danha, has intensified his call for Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba to resign, accusing her of mishandling the issue of the voters' roll.

Addressing the media in Harare yesterday, Danha who on Tuesday caused commotion at the signing ceremony of the peace pledge, said Chigumba should resign if Zimbabwe wants to avoid a discredited poll.

"The credibility of the entire electoral process fully hinges on the integrity of the voters' roll. Justice Chigumba has, contrary to this, intransigently made a public pronouncement that, notwithstanding the serious defects inherent in the voters' roll, the election shall advance.

"In light of these extreme transgressions of a free and fair electoral process, #1980 Freedom Movement has demanded the resignation of Justice Chigumba as the head of Zec as Zimbabwe cannot fathom yet another discredited election," he said.

During the peace pledge signing ceremony, Danha raised a point of order with NPRC chairperson Justice Masole Nare saying Chigumba should not address delegates before the presidential candidates' speeches or else he would disrupt the proceedings.

After the fracas, Danha who is not a presidential candidate, was arrested and detained at Harare Central Police Station and later released without charge.

"Such conduct of the police on June 26 is highly reprehensible and has no place in a constitutional democracy. The use of Gestapo and Nazi tactics to silence opposing political views cannot be countenanced in a country where the lives of many perished fighting for liberty, democracy and constitutionalism," he said.