Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has dismissed claims by the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC-Alliance that its members have been barred from attending the on-going provincial consultative meetings being conducted by ZEC.

In a Press Statement yesterday, ZEC highlighted that all political parties and other stakeholders will be invited to attend the engagements, whose purpose is to discuss and share information on topical electoral issues.

“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) would like to advise all stakeholders that it has launched provincial stakeholder engagements with effect from September 2021. Hence forth, these meetings will be held once every month in all the ten provinces.

“All political parties and stakeholders, including Civil Society Organisations will be invited to attend the provincial stakeholders engagements on a rotational basis once every month. Contrary to some press reports, no political party has been barred from attending these meetings which are currently in progress throughout the country,” reads part of the Statement.

ZEC said that due to Level 2 lockdown which is still in place and in compliance with the commission’s COVID-19 Policy on Electoral Activities, strict COVID-19 protocols will be adhered to during the meetings, highlighting that only a limited number of stakeholders will be invited each month.

The Commission warned the public to desist from attributing to ZEC misinformation on social media with a view to tarnish its image. ZEC urged aggrieved individuals to approach ZEC provincial offices for solution of any disputes in line with the letter and spirit of Multi Party liaison Committee function.

Meanwhile, some MDC-Alliance officials were arrested outside the ZEC provincial offices in Harare yesterday while illegally demonstrating against the alleged exclusion of their representatives from the stakeholder meeting, which was later called off due to the chaos caused by the opposition party.