Tsvangirai warns of election fraud.
Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday warned that next week's election was strongly at risk of being rigged, as he condemned the African Union's upbeat assessment of the poll preparations.
Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday warned that next week's election was strongly at risk of being rigged, as he condemned the African Union's upbeat assessment of the poll preparations.
"There is clear evidence of manipulation," Tsvangirai told a news conference in Harare. "There is a desperate attempt to subvert
the people's will."
The premier also criticised "the militarisation" of the polls, saying military drivers were used to transport ballot papers during
an early voting exercise.
His comments came just five days before Zimbabweans vote in the first presidential polls since violence tainted elections in 2008. Tsvangirai is vying the end the 33-year-rule of his rival President Robert Mugabe.
The lead-up to the July 31 election has been marred by flawed voter registration, chaotic early polling for security forces, and
lopsided campaign coverage on state media.
A special advance vote held on June 15 and 16 for police officers and soldiers saw polling stations open without ballot
papers, leaving thousands unable to cast their vote.
Tsvangirai claimed his party had also discovered that some of the ballot papers that were cast then were later thrown in dustbins. The head of the African Union on Friday expressed confidence that the early problems would be overcome.
"On the whole we got the impression that the preparations were satisfactory," said AU commission chairperson Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma.
"We think they will be able to manage," she said. "They gave us an explanation of why things went wrong. They called it a nightmare
but it's a nightmare that's behind them."
Tsvangirai called the claims "misleading". "It's unfortunate that statement was made because the truth of
matter is that I raised a number of issues with her of concern to the MDC," he said, referring to his Movement for Democratic Change
party.
"I raised the issue around the chaotic voter registration which has led to thousands if not a million people to be disenfranchised. I raised the issue of chaotic special vote, the way it was conducted.
"I said these are concerns that have implications on the credibility and legitimacy of the election.
"For one to say that none of the principals have raised these issues, it's not only unfortunate but it's downright misleading."
- Sapa-AFP