MDC Alliance presidential candidate on Wednesday stormed
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) offices demanding to meet chairperson
Justice Priscilla Chigumba after it emerged she was not available to accept the
pre-election coalition’s petition.
Chamisa led thousands of supporters protesting against
Zec’s management of the electoral process ahead of make-or-break polls later
this month.
Clad in red overalls, Chamisa led senior party and alliance
leader, among them former Finance minister Tendai Biti and MDC-T
secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora in venting their anger at officials,
including director of information Justin Manyau who was on hand to receive
them.
“We are not moving from here. I can tell you now and we are
going to start the process that we want. If they want to kill us, they can call
in the army with all kinds of guns. You guys are not serious.
“We gave notice to Chigumba that we were coming here. We
told Chigumba we are coming and you can’t send us. How did she move and to
where?,” Chamisa could be heard shouting.
Chamisa has declared there will not be an election unless
Zec accedes to the demand for a clean and complete voters’ register that would
be used for the election. He also want the poll management body to allow him as
well as other contestants access to the printing of the ballot paper that he thinks
provides the link to Zanu PF’s attempts to “rig” the election.
Chigumba argues she has complied with the law and provided
all parties contesting the election with an analysable voters’ roll.
However, the MDC Alliance has demanded one with biometrics in
the form of pictures of voters and indicated huge flaws in the register of
voters, including reports of the existence of centenarians, including a
141-year-old.
During the altercation with Zec officials, Mwonzora weighed
in: “We are ready to sleep here. We already fed up. This is not the first time
we are handing in a petition; the first one went through smoothly. They will
see us.”
Biti was also left fuming at what he called was utter
disrespect from the electoral commission.
“This is very disrespectful. It’s arrogance. The arrogance
and contempt is shocking. You are supposed to be independent ,” the former
Treasury chief said.
Zec’s independence has been questioned in the wake of
reports that Zanu PF might have had access to its database after it emerged
that the ruling party has been sending customised campaign messages to voters
using the mobile phone numbers directly linked to the constituencies in which
they are registered.
Chamisa was not done, threatening to make Zec ungovernable.
“Do you know this place can be chaotic if we call people
in,” he warned.
Manyau looked unfazed: “Let me say I have heard what you
have said.” Newsday
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