ZEC cries foul over constant attacks

ZEC cries foul over constant attacks

Pretty Manyewe

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission yesterday convened a press conference to address allegations raised by a number of political trolls on social media.

Leading the pack of accusers, who seem coordinated is faceless group Team Pachedu, which has been on overdrive with claims that ZEC is manipulating addresses in constituencies.

ZEC Vice Chief Elections Officer Jane Chigiji said ZEC functions within the requirements of the law that creates the entity.

“For the record, ZEC is a creature of statute whose members are appointed in terms of procedures outlined in the Zimbabwe law and its mandate is provided for in the terms of the constitution and electoral law of the country. ZEC is very much alive to the requirements of operating in within the confines of the law and to the consequences of failure to adhere to same.

All electoral reforms that have been introduced in this country are part of the efforts to improve election administration in general and to address concerns by some stakeholders of alleged vote rigging,” said Chigiji.

In the run up to by-elections on March 26, opposition members and those sympathetic to them have been making all sorts of allegations, claiming that the electoral body is adding people in constituencies, among others.

“They also seek to weigh down the Commission by constantly instituting litigation against it which in many cases is founded on baseless allegations simply as means into disrepute. However the Commission is alive to the fact that it is every citizen’s right to take the Commission to court on any matter they feel aggrieved on,” said Chigiji.

ZEC is worried that politicians are putting the commission in the line of fire, trying to use it to explain away possible loss.

“All the allegations that have been made against the Commission on vote rigging are mere allegations not supported by fact, figures, location or names of people prejudiced. Even where courts are roped in to establish any wrongfulness on its part and the commission is absolved, false political narratives continue to be generated simply to satisfy the ego of detractors.

The allegations are mere political statements meant to hoodwink voters for the selfish gain of politicians who believe only a result in their favor should come out of the ballot,” Chigiji added.