Opposition threatens to boycott poll
Publish date: 09 July 2018
Issue Number: 781
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has made a veiled threat to boycott the 30 July elections if there is no agreement between the independent election agency and political parties on ballot papers. Chamisa and his MDC are the main rivals to President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the first presidential and parliamentary vote since Robert Mugabe resigned last November. A report on the EWN site notes that the MDC is wary of any attempt to put it at a disadvantage to Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU-PF party, insisting there be a deal on how to design, print and store ballot papers. Chamisa said his party rejected the papers being printed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). 'We will not accept the current ballot paper that has been printed without our participation,' he told reporters.