Plot to prevent cops from voting

SCORES of police officers and other civil servants who will be on national duty during voting day risk failing to cast their ballots in this year's elections which will be polling station based, NewZimbabwe.com reported.

Under the new Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system introduced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) last year, voters will now be required to cast their ballots at a particular polling station within their wards instead of voting at any centre as was previously the case.

ZEC has hired teachers and police officers to conduct the elections as well as provide security during the duration of the polling period.

According to police sources, a total number of 3000 police officers from Bulawayo have been deployed to Matebeleland South during the election period.

All those officers are registered voters in various wards in the city, according to sources.

The police sources accused ZEC of trying to disfranchise police officers because of their perceived anti-Zanu-PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa stance.

Police sources also told New Zimbabwe that scores of police officers throughout the country have also been deployed outside their provinces.