MDC Alliance calls, cancels press conference

The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance today called a press conference at its headquarters but cancelled it minutes before it was scheduled to start.

The party did not explain what the press conference was about and why it was cancelled. It, however, apologised for any inconvenience this had caused.

The press conference which had been set for 11.30 would have been held while political parties were at the Harare International Conference Centre to sign a peace pledge ahead of the 30 July elections.

The meeting at HICC was organised by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.

The pledge has seven conditions which are:

1. No to violence, force or intimidation
2. No to hate speech and inducing fear
3. Yes to freedom to campaign and canvas
4. Yes to freedom of expression and equal access to media
5. Yes to freedom to choose a candidate and to vote in secret
6. Yes to full and equal participation of women
7. Yes to promoting a culture of peace and tolerance

The MDC Alliance has been calling on the Zimbabwe Election Commission to release a voters’ roll that was voters’ pictures saying this will help prevent rigging.

ZEC boss Priscillah Chigumba said those who want a voters’ roll with pictures should bring their own hard drives to copy the roll but said it was a PDF document and was therefore not searchable.

The signing of the peace pledge follows the bomb attack at White City Stadium in Bulawayo which seemed to be aimed at Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Two people have since died and another three are in a critical condition.

Mnangagwa has, however, said elections are going ahead as scheduled.

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