Election results to be out by 5 August

The results of this year’s elections, which will be held on 31 July, will be out by 5 August, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Rita Makarau said today.

“The fifth of August is the date on which, come hail, come thunder, we must announce the results. That is what the law says,” she said.

Results of the presidential vote were delayed by more than a month in 2008 leading to accusations of vote tampering especially since President Robert Mugabe had lost by a wide margin.

This year’s elections kick off tomorrow with special voters, mainly members of the uniformed services and those who will be on duty or away from their wards on the day of the general elections, casting their ballots over two days.

The European Union has said it will lift sanctions on Zimbabwe if the polls are declared free and fair by the African election observers.

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