Zimbabwe’s prime minister, who is also the country’s opposition leader, has said that it has lost faith in the electoral commission after “chaotic and disorganised” special voting for security forces ahead of key polls. Long queues and the late delivery of ballot papers marked the two-day early vote, which started on Sunday for police officers and soldiers who will be on duty on July 31 when the rest of the country votes. Many security force agents found themselves unable to vote, drawing condemnation from Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Tuesday.
“The process is chaotic and disorganised and has exposed ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) as a body not ready to the task,” MDC secretary general Tendai Biti told a news conference.
In just over a fortnight, presidential and parliamentary polls pit incumbent President Robert Mugabe against his arch-rival Tsvangirai, 61.
Mugabe, 89, hopes to extend his 33-year-rule in the vote that will end the pair’s unity government formed after deadly disputed polls in 2008.
Full Article: PM criticises ‘chaotic’ Zimbabwe voting – Africa – Al Jazeera English.