Maravi

MDC cadres waylay Electoral Commission chairperson

MDC cadres waylay Electoral Commission chairperson
By George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Monday March 31, 2008 [04:00]

ZIMBABWE Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson justice George Chiweshe was yesterday rescued by alert security from irate opposition MDC cadres at Harare's Meikles Hotel. The incident occurred just after MDC secretary general Tendai Biti addressed a press briefing at the hotel, announcing that his party was headed for victory. Immediately after the press briefing, some MDC cadres who attended the briefing confronted justice Chiweshe after he was spotted within the hotel premises.

"Chiweshe, where are the results? Give us the results! Why are you not announcing? You want to rig the election!" shouted the cadres.

Justice Chiweshe was at pains trying to calm the irate cadres who had engulfed him.

"I don't have any results here," justice Chiweshe said as the cadres responded: "No, you want to steal the vote," Justice Chiweshe was then whisked away by alert hotel security.

Earlier in an interview, justice Chiweshe said the Electoral Commission had not received results from most polling stations.

"I haven't received anything yet. They are verifying and counter-verifying. I would rather wait than push for incorrect results. I am a very patient man, the counting is done at the polling station, what we get at the command centre is just figures. The people in wards already have the results," justice Chiweshe said.

And Tendai Biti claimed that their leader Morgan Tsvangirai had won 67 per cent of the 12 per cent of ballot papers counted so far.
"Notwithstanding the results, this country is not capable of producing a free and fair election," said Biti.

"The legal constitution and political status in Zimbabwe is not capable of producing a free and fair election in this country."

Labels: CADRES, MDC, ZEC

posted by MrK @ 3:45 AM