The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has officially suspended elections in Zimbabwe. ZEC published an official communique citing the need to adhere to national lockdown regulations. The move is largely believed to be a plot to allow a minority party MDC-T to replace MDC Alliance MPs by way of appointment. Some legislators’ seats will become vacant if the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T recalls more MDC Alliance MPs. Four MPs have been recalled so far.
Here is ZEC full statement on suspension of Elections
Following the suspension of all electoral activities by the Zimbabwe Electoral Com-mission (ZEC) in response to measures announced by HE President Emmerson Mnangagwa to curb the spread of the Covid19 pandemic and the subsequent re-view of the level one lockdown to level two, the Commission will conduct activities that do not violate lockdown measures using skeletal staff.
This is in line with a Covid19 Electoral Practice Policy that is being finalised by the Commission whose finer details will be announced soon. The policy will guide electoral staff, the electorate and other stakeholders on how to conduct themselves before, during and after electoral processes to prevent health risks. The Commission would like to remind the public that those electoral activities that require gatherings will remain suspended to avoid violating lockdown measures currently in place.
The MDC Alliance has expressed concern over the move and queried why ZEC is not putting an effort to enforce social distance during the voting process.
“Covid19 is being taken advantage of by Mnangagwa‘s authoritarian regime to suppress rights & freedoms. Armed soldiers can violently invade our headquarters with no social distancing but electoral activities compelled by law must stop? Why not allow socially distanced queues?” read a statement from the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance.
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