News Day

By Kurauone Chihwayi

30 July 2013

THE recent MDC campaign launch in Chikomba marked the beginning of the journey to Zimbabwe’s State House by the party’s president Professor Welshman Ncube.

That also marked the beginning of the fierce hunt for State House keys by Team Zimbabwe headed by Ncube.

The MDC has proven practical solutions for Zimbabwe that will see the return of a vibrant industry, especially the strangled manufacturing sector.

What is now certain is that a better Zimbabwe is definitely coming and the tired and clueless Zanu PF regime is on its way out.

One may wonder why the MDC is singing the devolution song.

We sing the song because we have a package of solutions to the country’s social, political and economic problems that require urgent attention.

The MDC is a social democratic party that believes in democratic decision-making processes, tolerance of diversity of opinion, condemnation of corruption and upholding of the principle of equality in terms of opportunities and resources.

The MDC looks forward to a people-centred government that will transform lives through people-controlled programmes.

Our policy document,
ACTIONS, is our reference book that will guide us in all our activities.

We are talking about Access to resources and equity, public offices, power, free choices and justice; Control of our destiny, welfare, local power and decision making mechanism; Transformation of communities and strengthening livelihoods of all Zimbabweans; Initiatives for health, job creation, social security and equal opportunities; Organisation of all public institutions to effectively and efficiently deliver services; New technologies for propelling the country into the digital age through science, mathematics and engineering; and Sustainability of the agenda on life, the habitat, the environment, and national policy programmes.

Ncube was in rural Binga, about 1 000km from Harare, where he officially launched the party’s election manifesto — the party’s promise to the people of Zimbabwe is dubbed Devolution is our Revolution.

The MDC government is looking forward to a devolved effective local governance system, devolved progressive labour and employment practices, devolved industrial development, devolved growth-oriented mining, devolved sustainable social transformation, devolved gender and women’s rights practices and devolved sustainable green environment.

We are also pursuing a devolved clean water delivery, devolved quality education delivery system devolved quality health delivery, devolved public transport service delivery, productive land use, progressive international relations programme, progressive youth advancement, devolved media, information and communication practices as well as devolved sport and recreation.

Voting for the MDC would mean associating yourself with quality and progressive leadership that believes in prosperity.

The MDC government will bring locally-driven economic productivity, value addition on Zimbabwean commodities like diamonds and tobacco, proper utilisation and monitoring of the country’s natural resources, proper utilisation of the currently dormant or under-utilised human capital, participative economic development, stabilisation of the country’s international relations in order to create markets and attract international partners, creation of a stable environment and opportunities that attract foreign direct investment, reviving industry and national infrastructure for full productivity, creation of a user-friendly legal and political environment that allows free choice and pursuit of business goals, jobs, decent remuneration and retirement benefits for labour.

There will be respect acknowledgement and legal protection of private property rights, revitalisation and strengthening of industry as the basis for economic resuscitation, motivation and utilisation of the Zimbabwe Diaspora to play a more defined and structured role in the promotion of Zimbabwe and national development and the promotion of the use of all languages as a means of promoting diverse thinking and ideologies as well as tapping latent skills from the previously marginalised communities.

The MDC family is a practical team with a comprehensive work plan that will prioritise the needs of the people.

Devolution is our new revolution and that is a model of governance that will speed up transformation of rural and urban development.

The MDC is urging the people of Zimbabwe to avoid mistakes of voting for habitual thieves, looters and killers, I mean the people who looted our diamonds, the people who deprived us of our land rights, and the people who emerge during election periods only and disappear after winning.

The future of Zimbabwe lies in our hands and any careless voting will plunge our motherland into a serious crisis.

The people should not be misled by political regalia and food that is being dished by some known angels of the devil.

Eat the food, but vote correctly for Ncube and his green team.

Remember that green means abundant life, but not the Zanu PF green. The Zanu PF is a stolen green, it is not their green! Vote for Ncube for President! He is your President, he is my President, he is our President!

Those willing to read the MDC manifesto online are free to visit our website www.mdczim.net

lKurauone Chihwayi is MDC deputy secretary for media, information and publicity.

Why I will vote Ncube for President

Report by Hloniphani Ndlovu

BELOW are 11 reasons why I endorse and will vote for Welshman Ncube as presidential candidate and his party (some reasons I expand, others are self-explanatory):

• 1. Principled
• 2. Policy
• 3. Consistency

lRemember when there was the noise and bluff about elections two years or so after the signing of the government of national unity (GNU), Ncube is the only person who said elections will be held in 2013 and true to his word, we are having elections in 2013. There was another noise and bluff that elections would be held at beggining if 2013 and he said it’s not possible until July!
lFor that, he deserves my trust and vote as he has shown foresight and general/constitutional understanding.

• 4. Transparency
• 5. Genuineness

lHe has been “victimised” and attacked in his person and tribe, but he remained calm and focused

• 6. Being oneself, he is one person that has remained true to oneself and never exaggerated himself in public or otherwise

• 7. Not politicking

• lHe has always remained truthful and avoided politicking or saying political statements to please or sway masses

• 8. Personal integrity

lMost, if not all other presidential candidates, have moral issues to answer and/or defend. Ncube has nothing that has been raised so far. The only issue that he is blamed for which is beyond him and that which he cannot change is the “sin” of his parents that he is from a certain tribe which, according to some, is not morally qualified for Presidency!

• 9. GNU tenure

None of the ministers from MDC were accused of misusing the constituency funds (Zanu PF and MDC-T ministers were). The Education ministry delivered. Even critics cannot deny that David Coltart was among the best in the life of the GNU. His delivery cannot be ignored

lIndustries revival — This was purely sabotaged by other government ministries

• 10 Competence and qualification — I think nobody can doubt that if Presidency is about personal and academic qualification alone, none of the other presidential candidates will even dare challenge him. It is clear that the current emphasis on devolution of power is an important issue that cannot be over-emphasised. Some of us who have been practically negatively impacted by this centralisation monster cannot wait any longer to breathe a sigh of relief after the full implementation of devolution and the only party that has stood for and been serious and even competent to implement that is MDC led by Ncube

• lHloniphani Ndlovu is an MDC activist.

Southern Eye

By Pamela Mhlanga

30 July 2013

MDC Bulawayo East candidate David Coltart has said the large turnouts at President Robert Mugabe’s rallies in Matabeleland and Bulawayo were not an indication that Zanu PF would gain votes from those regions.

In a statement on Sunday, Coltart said the only way Mugabe and Zanu PF could win in Matabeleland was through rigging.

“This morning (Sunday) I read some commentaries suggesting that the size of Mugabe’s rally yesterday in Bulawayo is indicative of revitalisation of support for him in Bulawayo,” he said.

“Had those journalists made their commentary based on the rallies Mugabe has had in, say Marondera or Chinhoyi, then they might have had a point, but to base it on the turnout in Bulawayo actually illustrates better than anything else the fraud which is before us.”

Coltart pointed out that Mugabe and Zanu PF failed to win in Matabeleland in 1985 even in the middle of the massive threat towards the electorate posed by Gukurahundi.

“Post the unity accord in 1990 and 1995 they won, but only because of the Zapu support, which has since gone,” he said.

“Since 2000 they have not come close save for a few rural seats in Matabeleland.”

Coltart claimed the only reason why Zanu PF received huge attendance of people in their rallies was through tactics of intimidation, false promises to the impoverished, pouring of massive resources into their rallies, employing musicians and even bussing and trucking people in from afar to attend them.

“So it has been through this carrot and stick cocktail that people have been attending these rallies,” the Education minister explained.

“Then in addition, I think there is an element of voyeurism – a bit similar to how crowds gather to watch the aftermath of a traffic accident, Mugabe is an intriguing character to many people, as devastating as his policies have been to Zimbabwe and especially Bulawayo and Matabeleland, many people are intrigued how this 89-year-old continues and will go to listen to him.”

Coltart said he remained concerned about Zanu PF plans to rig because that was the only way the party could win this election.

“They certainly will not win based on the genuine support of people on the ground,” he said.

“I can tell with absolute confidence that in my constituency, at least Mugabe and Zanu PF have minimal support, and the attendance at the rally yesterday bears no relation to the support Mugabe and Zanu PF have on the ground in Bulawayo.”

Bulawayo 24

By Bulawayo 24 Reporter

30 July 2013

THE MDC led by Welshman Ncube on Sunday confounded critics by packing thousands of people into Stanley Square in Makokoba, Bulawayo, quashing suggestions that it was too small to make an impact in tomorrow’s elections.

The party turned Bulawayo green, as it held its star rally, a day after President Robert Mugabe held his own.

The party’s supporters started getting into Stanley Square as early as 11am, with a long winding queue outside, as they jostled to find a place to sit inside.

The party’s green T-shirts were also distributed to supporters and in no time, the whole venue had turned green.

Some wore green armbands as well as bandanas.

They sang and danced at the terraces – never running out of steam.

There was heavy whistling and ululation when senator David Coltart arrived accompanied by family members.

The throng went into delirium when party leader Ncube arrived, breaking into song and dance.

Addressing the rally, Ncube said Zimbabwe faces a leadership crisis. Ncube said Zimbabwe has all the natural resources making it rich but lacked intelligent, trustworthy and focused leadership to make people benefit from those resources.

“Zimbabwe is rich, but its people are poor why?” he asked.

“Ask yourself that if Zimbabwe has 20% of the world’s diamonds, if it is the second platinum producer in Africa, if it has vast mineral resources and if it has the most educated people in Africa, why then people are dying of hunger when our country is rich?”

Ncube, who has modelled his campaign along principled and accountable leadership, said the country lacked sound stewardship.

“We are short of one thing here, what we do not have is sound leadership,” he said.

“Zimbabwe is a failed State because of the failure in leadership,” he said.

“Today I am giving you the diagnosis of the problem of Zimbabwe. I am saying Zimbabwe is in the intensive care unit because of lack of intelligent, clever and trustworthy leadership.”

Turning to his former ally, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Ncube said it was not reasonable for the electorate to just remove President Robert Mugabe and replace him with a leader who lacks intelligence and focus because it is believed he is popular.

“The whites, relatives of our minister David Coltart, say in their language ‘the most lethal weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed’,” he said.

“If you meet somebody and they say you are few, you cannot remove Mugabe this means that person’s mind is controlled by his or her oppressor.”

Ncube also lashed out at Mugabe saying he is a man ashamed of the current state of his face.

“In the election race there is Chatunga’s father, among others, who came to you after 33 years of destroying the country to ask for another chance,” he said drawing applause from the crowd.

“You will elect him to do what as old as he is?

“The man is even ashamed of his face. Why did he not use his current picture? Why did he use his 1975 picture to seek for re-election? He knew that no one would vote for an old face and people would say let this great grandfather go to Zvimba and rest’.”

Ncube promised to turn around the country’s fortunes if elected into office.

“If you elect us, I tell you before Christmas we will have brought back money to the people, finished hunger and firms will be reopened,” he said.

“We have a real team that can deliver. If I challenge Mugabe to bring his team, he will bring me the likes of Didymas Mutasa – honestly is that a team which can do something as old as it is?”

Below is a list of polling stations for Ward 5, Bulawayo Central.

1. Bagcwele Shopping Centre

2. Bradfield Shopping Centre

3. Bulawayo Polytechnic Main Campus

4. Coghlan Primary School

5. Gifford High School, Girls College

6. Hamilton High School

7. Henry Low Primary School

8. Hillside Scout Hall

9. Hornung Park

10. Ingutsheni Hospital

11. Milton High School

12. Montrose Girls High School

13. Moray Primary School

14. Morning Side Shopping Centre

15. Oxford Pre-School

16. Petra Secondary School

17. Retreat Shopping Centre

18. Riverside Collegiate College

19. St Francis Primary School

Please note however that I am standing for Bulawayo East which comprises Ward 3 and Ward 4. My party representative for Bulawayo Central is Sibongile Maphosa. I am sure you will all support her as she is a capable, honest, hard working, reliable and people orientated person. I believe she will be able to assist Bulawayo Central in a great number of ways.

The Councillor is Theodora Mvundla. Please could you also give her your support by voting for her.

Southern Eye

By Blondie Ndebele

29 July 2013

ZIMBABWE Election Commission (ZEC) is under fire over its failure to release the voters’ roll prior the 2013 harmonised elections slated for Wednesday.

In a statement, MDC secretary for legal affairs David Coltart said the electoral body was violating the new Constitution, which states that a voters’ roll is a public document open for public inspection.

“It has not supplied the MDC, despite our repeated requests in writing and verbally, with a copy of the voters roll within a reasonable period of time,” he said.

“The provision of a voters’ roll goes to the very heart of a free and fair election and its non-supply undermines the credibility of this election.”

Coltart said failure by the commission to provide voting material raised serious questions about what the Registrar-General’s Office is up to regarding the roll.

He said they have taken their concern to the AU and Sadc Observer teams.

According to the Electoral Act, the commission shall within a reasonable period of time provide any person who requests it, and who pays the prescribed fee, with a copy of any ward or constituency voters’ roll, either in printed or in electronic form as the person may request.

However, yesterday ZEC said it did not have an electronic copy of the roll, saying only the hard copy would be made available at polling stations.

Human rights lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara said he was working on filing an urgent application for ZEC to release the voters’ roll.

“Working on urgent application for the immediate release of the electronic voter’s rolls,” he said on micro-blogging site,Twitter. “It’s the law and they should be provided to candidates for free.”

He said the new Constitution states that the public can inspect the voter’s roll and the candidates are given free electronic copies of the voter’s roll.

Head of the Sadc observer mission, Bernard Mwembe, said the mission was worried that the electoral register had not been given to the parties, describing it as a matter of grave concern.

“The voters’ roll is imperative, it has to be made available,” he said. “We are praying that this voters’ role be made available.

“For God’s sake I am appealing to the authorities to make this document available. It is the single most important document.”

ZimEye

By Ephat Sam Dangarembga

29 July 2013

Zimbabwe’s national elections have already been rigged before the first ballot is cast, and members of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission should be arrested for breaching clear legislation, analysts have charged.

“ZEC should be arrested for wilfully breaching the Electoral Act and in such a clearly nonsensical way as they have done by not only denying three million people registration access, but also failing to avail the poll register. It is ironical that the same organisation would at the same time allow police officers to vote twice” said political analyst Perry Mhlanga.

MDC Legal Affairs Secretary David Coltart also weighed into ZEC’s failings as he disclosed a statute in the Electoral Act that reveals the breaches which other analysts say are deliberate.

Said Coltart:

Sec 21(6) says that the voter roll must be supplied within a “reasonable period” and in electronic format.

But Coltart also copied section 51(3) which stipulates the exact period before elections are held:

Section 51(3) “A constituency elections officer shall cause a notice of—
(a) the places at which polling stations are to be established; and
(b) the hours during which the polling stations will be open;
to be published at least three weeks before polling day and again on polling day, in a newspaper circulating in the constituency concerned and in such other manner as he or she thinks fit.”

Coltart on Saturday also issued the below statement on ZEC’s non compliance with Section 21 of the Electoral Act.

STATEMENT REGARDING THE FAILURE BY THE ZEC TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 21 OF THE ELECTORAL ACT

 We now have 4 days to go until the election. I have just this morning spoken to our Elections Director in Harare and she advises that despite repeated requests we still have not received the voters roll in any format. I repeat that the ZEC is obliged to supply us with the roll. I attach the relevant section of the Electoral Act.

“21 Inspection of voters rolls and provision of copies

(1) Every voters roll shall be a public document and open to inspection by the public, free of charge, during ordinary office hours at the office of the Commission or the constituency registrar where it is kept.

(2) A person inspecting the voters roll for a constituency may, without removing the voters roll, make any written notes of anything contained therein during office hours.

(3) The Commission shall within a reasonable period of time provide any person who requests it, and who pays the prescribed fee, with a copy of any ward or constituency voters roll, either in printed or in electronic form as the person may request.

(4) Within a reasonable period of time after the calling of an election, the Commission shall provide, on payment of the prescribed fee, to every political party that intends to contest the election, and to any observer who requests it, one copy of every voters roll to be used in the election, either in printed or in electronic form as the party or observer may request.

(5) Fees prescribed for the purposes of subsection (3) or (4) shall not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the voters roll concerned.

(6) Within a reasonable period of the time after nomination day in an election, the Commission shall provide – (a) free of charge, to every nominated candidate, one copy in electronic form of the constituency voters roll to be used in the election for which the candidate has been nominated; and (b) at the request of any nominated candidate, and on payment of the prescribed fee, one copy in printed form of the constituency voters roll to be used in the election for which the candidate has been nominated.

(7) Where a voters roll is provided in electronic form in terms of subsection (3), (4) or (6), its format shall be such as allows its contents to be searched and analysed.”

The ZEC is in serious breach of section 21(3) in that it has not supplied the MDC, despite our repeated requests in writing and verablly, with a copy of the voters roll within a reasonable period of time.

Furthermore it is breach of section 21(6) in that it has not supplied me as a candidate, and I suspect every other candidate, with a copy of my constituency voters roll within a reasonable period of time. It is obvious that 4 days prior to the election is not a reasonable period of time.

The provision of a voters roll goes to the very heart of a free and fair election and its non supply undermines the credibility of this election. It also raises very serious questions about what the Registrar Generals office is up to regarding the roll.

This matter is brought to the attention of the AU and SADC Observer teams and we look forward to receiving their comments regarding this very serious breach of the law and the electoral process.

Sunday News

By Nobuhle Nyoni

28 July 2013

GOVERNMENT has called for the overhaul of the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) as it has failed to reach out to all children who are in need of an education.

The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Senator David Coltart said there was in excess of 380 000 children still out of school as a result of financial constraints. Sen Coltart said although the programme had been successful over the years there was a need to turn it around.

“The programme has been successful over the years, however, there is a need to review it as it has some loopholes. At the moment hundreds of thousands of children are out of school and by reviewing BEAM it will mean that every child would be catered for,” he said.

There was need to have a provision within the constitution that championed the right to education of all children.

Sen Coltart added that the programme was inadequately funded as a result of the economic challenges that the country was experiencing.

“Over $50 million is needed in order for all children of school going age to have access to education. At the moment the programme is under funded,” he said.

Sen Coltart said Beam had assisted over a million children since its introduction in 2001.

Beam has assisted over a million children in paying tuition fees and examination fees since its relaunch in 2010.

Southern Eye

By Blondie Ndebele

28 July 2013

ZANU PF activists allegedly pulled down all progressive party posters along the Airport Road and parts of the central business district along the route President Robert Mugabe used ahead of addressing a rally at White City Stadium.

MDC’s Bulawayo East candidate David Coltart raised the alarm when he spotted the Zanu PF activists pulling down the posters and replacing them with those of Mugabe.

Coltart said the activists, mainly youths, were travelling in a white double cab vehicle, removing MDC campaign posters and replacing them with Mugabe’s.

“I got a report that Zanu PF youths were systematically pulling down our campaign posters along Airport Road,” he said.

“We reported the matter to Queens Park East police and they said they would investigate.”

The MDC secretary for legal affairs said they had also reported the matter to Sadc and African Union (AU) observer missions, who said they would also carry out their own investigations.

“I have reported the taking down of posters as well to honourable (Situmbeko) Musokotwane MP from Zambia, part of Sadc observers and asked they witness crimes,” he said.

“This will be an interesting test of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Will they vigorously arrest and prosecute those systematically taking down MDC posters now?”

Coltart said, coincidentally, this came a few days after one of his campaign staff was “dehumanised” by the police after they accused him of pulling down a Zanu PF poster. About 40 people have been arrested for allegedly pulling down Zanu PF posters countrywide.  However, the State is yet to prosecute anyone accused of taking down posters of the two MDC parties, although some incidents have been reported.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo yesterday said he was unaware of yesterday’s incident.

News Day

By Wellington Toni

27 July 2013

PICTURE THIS: The next Zimbabwe Parliamentarian — former Premier Soccer League chairman Tapiwa Matangaidze and Zimbabwe Football Trust chairman Tshinga Dube.

Add former Dynamos secretary general Raymond Kazembe and spice it up with current Under-23 manager Chris Chitindi.

This could be the new Parliament, from next Wednesday, if everything goes according to plan, for these four gentlemen seeking to be voted for in the harmonised elections.

Once this happens, then calls for a separate sports ministry will grow even louder, what more with people like Matangaidze’s calibre in the House of Assembly.

For now sport, especially the most popular sport football, has been a trailer due to lack of a sole sport ministry.

Instead, David Coltart has had to deal with education, sports, arts and culture in a heavy portfolio where his concentration has been to an extent education.

And who can blame him. We need an educated Zimbabwe and one million school kids without textbooks cannot be sacrificed for a mere 90 minutes of football for the underachieving Warriors.

First up is Dube, a long time Highlanders benefactor, chairman of diamond mining company Marange Resources, which also sponsors women’s football and chief executive of the Zimbabwe Defence Industries. He faces MDC-T’s Gorden Moyo in the Makokoba constituency in Bulawayo.

This weekend, Dube hosts the biggest musical contest in the City of Kings, which will feature South African musicians Freddy Gwala, Platform One and local stars in a last minute bid to woo the voting public. His mantra has been the revival of industries in Bulawayo and he recognises that art and sport play a vital role.

“The industry in Bulawayo is dead and we want work around the clock to revive and develop it. The people are there and there is no reason why we cannot find investors to help us. The arts, culture and sports play a vital role as well as a form of employment,” Dube said.

Former PSL boss Matangaidze is eyeing the Shurugwi South constituency, under the Zanu PF banner, and has been on the campaign trail since the beginning of the year.

He has the support of Francis Nhema, who is eyeing Shurugwi North.

Yesterday, Matangaidze attended President Mugabe’s star rally in Gweru.

Chitindi, who was the manager of the Warriors in the last edition of the African Nations Championships (Chan) in Sudan in 2011, is now the Under-23 manager and has made it no secret that he belongs to the house of the country’s lawmakers.

Muzarabani South is the place he wants to be and this is the place he wants to develop, from the youths to the elderly, creating employment for all and sundry, he says.

Chitindi said yesterday: “There is no threat at all here from the opposition. Remember in 2008, Edward Raradza was elected unopposed and the opposition are just fielding candidates for the sake of it, otherwise it’s a done deal.

“Our motto is indigenise and empower and that’s what we want to do in this constituency as the people’s party. We hope to be able to push for a sport ministry once in Parliament.”

Kazembe is a Harare businessman, who rose to further prominence as secretary general of the country’s most successful football club Dynamos and will be standing for Zanu PF in Mazowe West. He is the managing director of Leabridge Technologies, an indigenous ICT firm that was engaged by South African firms to provide advanced technology security services at the 2010 World Cup.

STATEMENT REGARDING THE FAILURE BY THE ZEC TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 21 OF THE ELECTORAL ACT

 We now have 4 days to go until the election. I have just this morning spoken to our Elections Director in Harare and she advises that despite repeated requests we still have not received the voters roll in any format. I repeat that the ZEC is obliged to supply us with the roll. I attach the relevant section of the Electoral Act.

“21 Inspection of voters rolls and provision of copies

(1) Every voters roll shall be a public document and open to inspection by the public, free of charge, during ordinary office hours at the office of the Commission or the constituency registrar where it is kept.

(2) A person inspecting the voters roll for a constituency may, without removing the voters roll, make any written notes of anything contained therein during office hours.

(3) The Commission shall within a reasonable period of time provide any person who requests it, and who pays the prescribed fee, with a copy of any ward or constituency voters roll, either in printed or in electronic form as the person may request.

(4) Within a reasonable period of time after the calling of an election, the Commission shall provide, on payment of the prescribed fee, to every political party that intends to contest the election, and to any observer who requests it, one copy of every voters roll to be used in the election, either in printed or in electronic form as the party or observer may request.

(5) Fees prescribed for the purposes of subsection (3) or (4) shall not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the voters roll concerned.

(6) Within a reasonable period of the time after nomination day in an election, the Commission shall provide – (a) free of charge, to every nominated candidate, one copy in electronic form of the constituency voters roll to be used in the election for which the candidate has been nominated; and (b) at the request of any nominated candidate, and on payment of the prescribed fee, one copy in printed form of the constituency voters roll to be used in the election for which the candidate has been nominated.

(7) Where a voters roll is provided in electronic form in terms of subsection (3), (4) or (6), its format shall be such as allows its contents to be searched and analysed.”

The ZEC is in serious breach of section 21(3) in that it has not supplied the MDC, despite our repeated requests in writing and verablly, with a copy of the voters roll within a reasonable period of time.

Furthermore it is breach of section 21(6) in that it has not supplied me as a candidate, and I suspect every other candidate, with a copy of my constituency voters roll within a reasonable period of time. It is obvious that 4 days prior to the election is not a reasonable period of time.

The provision of a voters roll goes to the very heart of a free and fair election and its non supply undermines the credibility of this election. It also raises very serious questions about what the Registrar Generals office is up to regarding the roll.

This matter is brought to the attention of the AU and SADC Observer teams and we look forward to receiving their comments regarding this very serious breach of the law and the electoral process.

Senator David Coltart

Secretary for Legal Affairs

MDC

Bulawayo 27 July 2013