CIO accused of vetting ZEC officials

By Tatenda Mabasa

CHINHOYI – The recruitment of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) personnel in its lower ranks is being controlled by President Robert Mugabe’s office, a Movement for Democratic Change official has told Nehanda Radio.

According to Big Haurobi, the MDC-T provincial spokesperson for Mashonaland West covering Karoi, Chinhoyi, Kadoma, Chegutu among other areas, the move puts a dent on the chances of holding “free and fair elections.”

“The procedure taken by the Public Service Commission to forward names of civil servants submitted for consideration to the President’s Offices makes a mockery of our approach to free and fair elections. Some Government workers are not happy with that move.

“Infact as a party we do not foresee those who sympathise with MDC-T being cleared. This is an indication of how forthcoming elections will be rigged in favour of Zanu PF.” Haurobi added that in Karoi town mostly members of Ministry of Youth and Empowerment were recruited as voter educators.

“The employment of these workers is disputed and now all of a sudden, they lead in voter education. Its unfortunate that nothing is being done to rectify the situation,” Haurobi added.

A Nehanda Radio reporter witnessed some known youths nicknamed “green bombers” or Border Gezi graduates distributing ZEC pamphlets on the referendum vote due on 16 March. The youths are well known for their allegiance to Zanu PF as they are being paid salaries without working at ward level.

They started working on Wednesday. There was no immediate comment from ZEC as a public relations officer identified as Richard Ngurunga did not answer our calls at the time of writing. Zanu PF is accused of coercing members of the army, police and prisons among others to support them and influence elections.