In a statement yesterday, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba warned political parties and the public that it is an offence to announce election results. She also warned against against interrupting, obstructing or disturbing any electoral proceedings.
Chigumba said anyone who announces results before ZEC shall be liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both fine and imprisonment. She also spoke on an incident that occurred in Zvishavane, where some MDC-Alliance members disrupted the issuing of postal vote envelopes to 78 applicants supposed to be deployed for electoral duties. Said Chigumba:
The commission has witnessed incidents where some elements have tried to destabilise the processing of the postal vote on the pretext of demanding transparency. In particular, ZEC would like to condemn an incident that occurred at the ZEC district office in Zvishavane where a group of MDC-Alliance members disrupted the issuing of postal vote envelopes to 78 applicants supposed to be deployed for electoral duties. Stakeholders are reminded that it is an offence in terms of Sections 186 of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) for a person to wilfully interrupt, obstruct or disturb any proceedings taken in terms of the Act. Any further disruption by any party or stakeholder may force the commission to invoke this provision for those found in breach.
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