Harare: Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Party, has threatened to boycott the coming elections if the country’s electoral management body maintains a veil of secrecy on the printing of ballot papers.
The MDC-T deputy treasurer general Charlton Hwende has warned of “massive demonstrations” to force the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to ensure transparency in the awarding of a tender to print ballot papers.
“We are now finalising our pans for massive demonstrations across the country. There will be no elections without an open tender for the printing of the ballot papers,” Hwende posted on Twitter.
The opposition is pushing for a coterie of electoral reforms to guarantee a free, fair and credible election.
The demands by the opposition, if Zimbabwe is to hold free and fair elections, include the full disclosure and transparency around the ballot paper, its technical status, its printing and its distribution thereof.
READ Also: Realistic or Not? Here Are Zimbabwe Opposition Poll Demands
Zimbabwe’s opposition accuses the ruling Zanu-PF party of rigging past elections.
In 2008, the late opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai was forced to quit participating in a run-off presidential poll against Mugabe citing violence on his supporters.
In 2013, Mugabe’s ruling party was accused of engaging an Israeli firm to rig elections on its behalf.
The ruling party denies the charge, and instead accuses the opposition of being sour losers.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has invited regional and international election observer teams from as far as the European Union to observe the coming polls.
