Parties Call For Independent Electoral Commission
”Zimbabwe Electoral Commission must be independent, staffed with competent people appointed on basis of expertise. Police must not detain people who report cases of violence” said CIZ in a statement released to the media at the weekend.
Residents who attended a community meeting agreed that Zimbabwe was in urgent need of an Independent Police and Electoral Commission.
Participants also called for secrecy of ballot paper for security forces unlike in the past where juniors were forced to vote under watchful eyes of their superiors including police, arm and prison services.
Participants also called on transparent voting of civil servants many who have been subjected to political victimisation. The participants called on police to carry out duties without any political influence, not detaining victims of political violence.
Karoi town under Hurungwe is a politically volatile area in Mashonaland West and had MDC supporters detained for making reports of political violence since 2000.
Zimbabwe’s decade long political crisis ended in 2009 following the formation of a Government of National Unity between President Robert Mugabe and his long time foe Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister after the disputed 2008 presidential election that were condemned internationally. MDC-T claims at least 200 of its supporters were killed in June presidential run-off.