News / National
ZEC taking instructions from Zanu-PF, says Biti
17 Jul 2013 at 06:23hrs | Views
MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti told journalists in Harare that although his party respected the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) commissioners, it was not happy with the commission's secretariat, which he accused of taking instructions from Zanu-PF.
"It is evident that our fears are being vindicated," Biti said.
Biti alleged that ballot boxes from Mashonaland Central were mixed with those meant for Masvingo.
He said polling agents from MDC-T were turned away at some station on "flimsy" grounds that they had not been accredited.
"There is a serious disconnect between ZEC and its staff," he said.
"The constant abuse of the law has arrested this election from day one.
"There was clear breach of the secrecy of the vote as at some centres they were called by their names and told to come and vote," Biti citing Mt Pleasant and Main Hall polling stations, said.
"It is unacceptable and illegal. ZEC discarded the voters' roll and is using illegal election practices," he said.
ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said she could not comment on the matter as she was busy in meetings to review the special voting exercise.
But Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo defended ZEC and accused the MDC-T of delaying the special vote.
"The problems that ZEC is facing emanated principally from the MDC-T in particular with their delays in providing candidates they wanted in the ballot papers," he said.
"ZEC is a professional organisation headed by two professional women. If one does not provide candidates, what do they expect ZEC to do? We are not perturbed by the MDCs mantra."
Biti queried why 70 000 applications had been made for the special voting exercise when the police had an estimated contingent of 45 000.
"It is evident that our fears are being vindicated," Biti said.
Biti alleged that ballot boxes from Mashonaland Central were mixed with those meant for Masvingo.
He said polling agents from MDC-T were turned away at some station on "flimsy" grounds that they had not been accredited.
"There is a serious disconnect between ZEC and its staff," he said.
"The constant abuse of the law has arrested this election from day one.
"There was clear breach of the secrecy of the vote as at some centres they were called by their names and told to come and vote," Biti citing Mt Pleasant and Main Hall polling stations, said.
"It is unacceptable and illegal. ZEC discarded the voters' roll and is using illegal election practices," he said.
ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said she could not comment on the matter as she was busy in meetings to review the special voting exercise.
But Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo defended ZEC and accused the MDC-T of delaying the special vote.
"The problems that ZEC is facing emanated principally from the MDC-T in particular with their delays in providing candidates they wanted in the ballot papers," he said.
"ZEC is a professional organisation headed by two professional women. If one does not provide candidates, what do they expect ZEC to do? We are not perturbed by the MDCs mantra."
Biti queried why 70 000 applications had been made for the special voting exercise when the police had an estimated contingent of 45 000.
Source - southerneye
