Africa
ZIMBABWE’S opposition MDC Alliance on Wednesday urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to intervene and ensure a free, fair and credible July 30 election.
The opposition party is accusing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of deliberately frustrating key electoral reforms necessary for the holding of transparent elections.
Among the opposition party’s concerns are the non-issuance to candidates of a credible voters’ roll by ZEC and the lack of transparency around the printing, storage and distribution of ballots.
Addressing a news conference, MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa said he had requested a meeting with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to discuss the issues of concern.
In the meantime, the opposition party would dispatch envoys to SADC, the AU and the international community to apprise them on the pre-election challenges they were facing, he said.
“It is clear that we have an election process stalemate arising out of the ballot scandal and the voters’ roll inadequacies and omissions. This has culminated in an election crisis.
“We therefore call upon SADC, the AU and the international community to intervene and save a collapsing process and abate an imminent legitimacy crisis,” Chamisa said.
Chamisa is the main challenger of Mnangagwa in the presidential poll in which 21 others are contesting for the top job in the country.
– Jul. 4, 2018 @ 15:55 GMT |
Tags: AU to intervene in Zimbabwe polls Opposition MDC Alliance urges SADC
