Chamisa threatens to pull out of elections

For this election to pass the barest minimum standards of verifiability, security and transparency around the Voters’ Roll and ballot papers, ZEC must ensure that:

I.The full version of the Voters’ Roll is immediately provided to the parties and independently audited.

1. There is transparent printing of ballot papers and observation of the printing process by candidates.

III. The printed ballot papers are stored in a secure place where there is inclusive stakeholder participation and joint security.

1. The distribution of ballot papers to the polling stations is done in an inclusive, transparent and traceable manner where stakeholders participate.

This election is crucial in allowing Zimbabweans to move forward. However, only a true and democratic election can afford the people of Zimbabwe opportunity to choose their own leaders.

We are not by any chance disillusioned in our demand for transparency. We are quite informed on the mechanisms used in the past to manipulate the vote using the Voters’ Roll, ballot papers and polling station deployments.

Our constitution guarantees us the right to access information held by the state and its organs. The vote must be secret but the election must not held in secrecy. Section 62(1) of the Constitution clearly states:

Every Zimbabwean citizen or permanent resident, including juristic persons and the Zimbabwean media, has the right of access to any information held by the State or by any institution or agency of government at every level, in so far as the information is required in the interests of public accountability.

We want to make it clear, that anything short of a free, fair and credible election as envisaged by our constitution will not be allowed to take place in Zimbabwe.

In the absence of procedural certainty, verifiability of the election will be put into question. If the content and process of this election does not pass these key requirements, then there will be no election.

In 2018, our country certainly does not afford yet another disputed election lest our people begin to lose hope in democracy as a system of governance. Our people are tired and cannot take it anymore. We are therefore prepared to defend our people’s right to a free, fair and credible election in Zimbabwe.

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.

For the avoidance of doubt, we do not and will not accept the current ballot paper that has been printed without our participation.

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