MDC-T calls on Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to fire all CIO and security agents for free and fair elections

The Movement for Democratic Change –Tsvangirai has called on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to fire all Central Intelligence Organisation and State security agents presently running the ZEC secretariat if it is genuine about holding free and fair elections in 2018.

The ZEC has announced new measures to enable free and fair elections which include preparing a new voters’ roll with pictures of registered voters and limiting polling stations to only 1 500 voters, but the MDC-T said this was not enough.

The main opposition party said the ZEC should work with all the main political players to ensure free and fair elections.

“The situation on the ground, however, is pointing to the fact that ZEC is terribly ill-prepared and ill-equipped to conduct a free and fair election in Zimbabwe,” the party said.

“ ZEC chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau, was recently quoted in the public domain announcing that the electoral reforms will cost about US$30 million and that both the government and donors will fund this program.

“We all know that the government of Zimbabwe is nearly bankrupt and that it will most likely be unable to make any significant financial contribution to meeting the said cost. Thus, it is incumbent upon ZEC to make a full public disclosure of the names of the donors who will be funding this process.

“As the MDC, we are extremely concerned about the lack of transparency pertaining to the manner in which ZEC generally conducts its affairs.”

The party said there was a very disturbing and worrisome veneer of secrecy surrounding such issues as where and who prints ballot papers, and who supplies the indelible ink that is used at polling stations.

“We robustly demand and declare that all these essential matters pertaining to the running of free and fair elections should be fully and adequately disclosed and discussed with all political parties that are participating in the electoral process.

“More importantly, ZEC should immediately proceed to terminate the contracts of employment of all CIO and other State security agents who are presently running the ZEC secretariat. The ZEC secretariat has been the engine-room of the electoral rigging process in Zimbabwe.

“Previous experience has taught us that certain key figures within the ZEC secretariat do not report to the Commissioners. They actually report directly to their political masters at Munhumutapa and Chaminuka buildings,” the party said.

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