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Our hands are tied - ZEC
The Herald (Zimbabwe)
April 11, 2008

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=33048&cat=1

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission says its hands are tied with regard to the release of the presidential poll results because the matter is still before the High Court.

Breaking its silence since announcing the last Senate results, ZEC said it was not in a position to comment on the presidential election results as the issue was now the subject of legal proceedings in the High Court.

In a statement, ZEC said pending the determination by the court, it was unable to comment on the matter.

"The commission wishes to advise the public that the question of the results of the presidential election is now the subject of legal proceedings in the High Court.

"Pending determination by that court, and in line with established rules of court, norms and procedures, the commission is unable to comment on this subject."

The commission said it had received numerous inquiries from stakeholders, the electorate, observers, local and foreign media with regard to the compilation and publication of the presidential poll results, but was unable to comment.

ZEC commended the nation for the peaceful environment that prevailed before, during and after the elections.

"We urge all stakeholders to remain patient and allow the due process of the law to run its course," said the commission.

MDC-T has lodged a court petition seeking an order for ZEC to announce the presidential election results.

High Court judge Justice Tendayi Uchena will deliver his judgment next Monday.

Government yesterday said it was not stopping ZEC from releasing results of the presidential election.

In a statement, the Minister of Information and Publicity, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, said Zanu-PF was also keenly awaiting the release of the results.

"The ruling party and its presidential candidate Cde R.G. Mugabe are also eagerly waiting for the ZEC to complete its ballot votes verification freely without any interference and without pressure not to release the results.

"I would like to state in unequivocal terms that it is not true that the President nor Government is holding the Zimbabwe election results," he said.

Dr Ndlovu said he was convinced ZEC in its wisdom would like to do a meticulous job before it could announce the results to the nation.

"I am sure that ZEC can speak for itself, not Government. All questions on elections and verification exercise must be directed to ZEC and not to Government," said Dr Ndlovu.

His statement came in the wake of false reports by some sections of the Western and South African media and MDC-T, among others, who were alleging that Government had directed ZEC not to release the results.

In a related matter, MDC-T says it will mount a legal challenge against Zanu-PF's request for a vote recount of parliamentary election results in five House of Assembly constituencies, arguing the ballot boxes might have been tampered with.

ZEC has agreed to Zanu-PF's request for recounts in Mutare West, Bikita West, Chimanimani West, Zhombe and Gutu South constituencies.

The commission is also considering Zanu-PF's request for recounts in seven other constituencies.

MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa said they had since instructed their lawyers to challenge the recount.

It can be easily detected if ballot boxes are tampered with because at the end of voting and counting, agents of all contesting parties take down all the details such as the number of ballot papers in the box.

They are also required to sign that the information is correct before the boxes are sealed.

ZEC rejected requests for recounts in Bulilima East, Buhera South, Chegutu West, Chinhoyi, Bulawayo East, Hurungwe West and Gutu Central, compelling Zanu-PF to approach the Electoral Court.

Meanwhile, ZEC has denied that it has dismantled the National Command Centre, saying it had only scaled down operations following the successful completion of three of the four harmonised elections held on March 29.

New Ziana reports that ZEC deputy chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said the election body had removed some of its equipment from the command centre because it was no longer necessary to keep it there.

"After the three elections, it was not necessary to keep all that equipment," he said.

Mr Silaigwana said ZEC also found it unnecessary to keep equipment at the National Command Centre since the issue of the remaining presidential election results had been taken to court and there was no indication as to when it would be concluded.

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