ZEC petition handed through massive protest

Scores of protesters marched to the offices of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) just before midday today and handed the petition to ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau demanding that she must step down together with her other commissioners, to pave way for creation of truly independent electoral commission.

The protest, organized by the National Youth Alliance (NYAA), later caught the police by huge surprise as the group of protesters ended up at parliament, after handing the petition at the ZEC offices, the other end of the central city centre.

NYAA chairperson Gilbert Mutubuki is the first signatory to the petition, which has attracted thousands of other signatures from Zimbabweans, including the likes of MKD leader Simba Makoni, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, his counterparts Douglas Mwonzora, Theresa Makone, Morgen Komichi, Paurina Mpariwa, MDC-Renewal secretary general Tendai Biti and their party's treasurer general Elton Mangoma, among others.

NYAA spokesperson Itai Dzamara said, 'The petition has reached Makarau and right now I am holding the stamped copy to prove receipt of the petition. When the protesters arrived at the ZEC offices, the security personnel closed the gate but, we already had the NYAA secretary general Lloyd Pasi inside Makarau's office and handing it. We also enclosed copies of signed forms bearing signatures of thousands of Zimbabweans that signed during the past three days in Harare alone.'

Veteran politician Job Sikhala addressed the protesters at the ZEC offices' gate. 'Today we have handed this petition to Makarau to pronounce an end to her agenda of rigging elections. We shall not accept any other elections conducted by Makarau and her NIKUV. We will continue protesting until our demands are met,' Sikhala said.

Mutubuki also addressed the crowd and said, 'There must be a truly independent electoral commission and we shall roll out more protests as NYAA until our demand is met. We want a credible voters' roll. We want the voter registration process to be conducted consistently as is required by the constitution.'

The protesters then marched along various streets in the city centre, all the way to parliament, until groups of riot police arrived and the crowd dispersed.

Dzamara added, 'We have achieved our mission and made a very clear statement. More is coming, until our demands are met. The process of gathering signatures is continuing both physically and online. We are soon taking this agenda to other parts of the country. NYAA is resolved that there must not be any elections conducted by this partisan commission and shall continue with the agenda.