OPPOSITION MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday met a pre-election observer team from United States Carter Centre, where he bemoaned the lack of comprehensive reforms ahead of general elections set for July this year.
BY STAFF REPORTER
Chamisa’s spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka said his boss raised concern over the Zanu PF government’s lack of political will to align key pieces of legislation to the Constitution to ensure free and fair polls.
The laws that require urgent alignment to the Constitution include the Electoral Act, the Public Order Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
“He said POSA and AIPPA proscribe the freedom of assembly, speech and movement which are recognized by the country’s Constitution,” Tamborinyoka said.
“The people’s president raised issues to do with political violence, the militarisation of the villages, and the abuse of traditional leaders, impartial coverage and unequal access to the media as well as the independence of ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission), whose secretariat consists of serving and/or retired members of the military. He bemoaned the partisan distribution of food particularly in the rural areas where food continued to be used as a political weapon to hold the rural populace captive to a political party.”
The MDC-T and MDC Alliance presidential candidate reportedly demanded that all stakeholders in this year’s polls be given an equal opportunity to agree on the identity of the company that would print the ballot papers, as well as auditing the voters roll that will be used in the elections.
In an unrelated matter, Chamisa later met his party’s councillors for Bulawayo and exhorted them to prioritise service delivery “The people’s president told the councillors that the thrust of responsible local governance rests on accountability, transparency and service delivery. President Chamisa said it was imperative for councillors to adhere to the party template that demands that every people’s representative regularly holds feedback meetings. The councilors raised issues of the challenges facing the city, among them the continued government interference into their affairs,” Tamborinyoka said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Chamisa was said to have promised that his incoming government was committed to implementing devolution which would ensure that local communities were empowered to run their own affairs.
