THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says the ouster of
former Robert Mugabe after a military takeover will not affect next year’s
elections.
ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau said the events of the last
two weeks that saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa taking over after his mentor
was forced to step down will not affect the preparations for the harmonised
polls.
“I think Zimbabwe is ready for elections. I think more than
before because people are now free to express their views, so more than before
I think Zimbabweans are ready,” she said.
Makarau said the army takeover did not affect the ongoing
biometric voter registration exercise.
“We are on schedule for elections and voter registration is
continuing, so we will want all those people who are here in the stadium and
all those who were in the streets to register to vote,” she said.
ZEC, which started the blitz in August aiming to register
seven million voters, has only managed to register three million people, with
just 24 days before the exercise ends. However, Makarau said they were still
confident that the target would be met.
“We are still hoping to reach the other four million and we
expect everybody else to assist us to reach that target,” she said.
“Depending on the statistics that we will get and the
reports that we will get from the provinces where we need to mop up in certain
areas, we may need to extend the deadline that we gave ourselves.”
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said the military should not
play a role in elections and should now return to the barracks.
“Electoral reforms that include complete and thorough
de-politicisation of traditional leaders should, thus, be promptly put in place
in time for next year’s elections,” he said.
“That is the real acid test of the new president’s
inauguration speech.
“Elections in Zimbabwe have been routinely rigged and
manipulated in favour of the ruling party.
“Zanu PF has developed a notorious record of violence,
thuggery and intimidation; particularly during electioneering times.” standard
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