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(HERALD) ZEC deploys constituency poll officers countrywide

ZEC deploys constituency poll officers countrywide
Bulawayo Bureau

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has deployed constituency election officers throughout the country as preparations for next week’s presidential run-off and the three House of Assembly by-elections scheduled for Friday next week are geared up. ZEC also said it had so far accredited 370 foreign and local observers. In an interview yesterday, ZEC deputy chief elections officer (operations) Mr Utloile Silaigwana said the electoral body had finished training constituency election officers and provincial logistic committees.

He said the constituency election officers would in turn train polling officers, who are due to be deployed next week — four days before the run-off date.

"We will deploy polling officers next week as soon as they undergo training by the constituency election officers whom we sent out this week," said Mr Silaigwana.

He said election material would be dispatched to provinces next week to make sure that the polls are held according to plan.

"Material for the polls is there, that is, inks, ballot papers and boxes. We will send the material to constituencies soon," said Mr Silaigwana.

In a separate interview, ZEC director of public relations Mr Shupikai Mashereni said 154 local and foreign journalists had been accredited.

"So far we have accredited 360 foreign observers, 10 local observers, eight foreign journalists and 146 local journalists. The process is going on smoothly," he said.

Mr Mashereni said of the accredited foreign observers, the majority of them were from Africa while others were diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe.

Among the African observers were those from Sadc and the Pan-African Parliament.

The accreditation of journalists and observers will continue until polling day.

Mr Silaigwana said preparations for the elections were going on well with no hitches.

He urged political parties and Zimbabweans to abide by the electoral laws by not engaging in violence.

"We are encouraging political parties to ensure that their supporters are campaigning peacefully by respecting the electoral laws,"" he said.

Zimbabweans go to polls next Friday to vote in a run-off pitting President Mugabe against MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

ZEC has published a list of 9 231 polling stations for the run-off and by-elections.

The electoral body said each of the polling stations would have seven polling officers.

The run-off will be run concurrently with by-elections in Pelandaba-Mpopoma, Gwanda South and Redcliff, which were postponed following the death of duly nominated MDC candidates in the constituencies before polling on March 29.

Labels: ELECTIONS, ZEC, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 4:30 AM