‘Zec refusing to avail material to prove rigging’

via ‘Zec refusing to avail material to prove rigging’ – DailyNews Live 16 OCTOBER 2013

Thokozani Khupe, deputy president for the mainstream MDC, has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) of scuttling efforts to prove that the July 31 elections were rigged.

Khupe thanked Gweru residents for voting for MDC MPs and councillors at a rally held in the Midlands capital last weekend.

The MDC vice president, who was accompanied by the deputy treasurer general, Elton Mangoma, national spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora and Mkoba MP, Amos Chibaya paid tribute to the people of Mkoba for voting for the MDC but said it was unfortunate that the people’s vote was “massively stolen” on July 31.

“Everyone was shocked by the July 31 elections and I know most of us are still mourning. As the party leadership, we have been to all provinces and we have been told ‘chilling stories’ of how Zanu PF stole the election,” she said.

“We are yet to get any substantive information to provide to the world. We wanted Zec to avail us with the material that was used during the voting process, but they refused.

“We also wanted an electronic voters’ roll but they also refused to release it and there is, therefore, nothing we can do.”

Mangoma alleged that Zanu PF depopulated some areas, overpopulated others, took massive tracts of land under the guise of cooperatives and ordered the land owners to vote for Zanu PF or face dire consequences, accusations strenuously rejected by Zanu PF.

“But we ask ourselves, do the people of Zimbabwe deserve fraudsters at the helm of their government?”

Mangoma asked. “That is why the MDC remains united to see to it that Zimbabwe works again.”

Khupe claimed on July 31, the people of Zimbabwe voted overwhelmingly for MDC but insists their will was “stolen by Zanu PF.”

“They voted knowing that MDC is the only party that is able to show its competence and love for the people and its major aim is to see the economy working, the people living better lives, children going to school, hospitals and clinics functioning again,” Khupe said.

“We thank the people of Zimbabwe for voting for the people’s party — MDC. Sadly, the July 31 elections where massively stolen to the point that those in Zanu PF are still wondering how it achieved this and the clueless party is now failing to run or turn around the economy for the better of the people of Zimbabwe.”

Tsvangirai told people at a recent rally in Mutare that he would furnish African leaders with evidence of Zanu PF rigging.

“I shall be engaging Sadc and the AU because they simply do not have the information of how the people’s verdict was stolen. So I shall visit them and update them on what happened during the July 31 theft,” he said.

Khupe said that there was rampant corruption in Zanu PF that has cascaded to the national parks where she alleged wild animals were being killed by Zanu PF cartels.

“They are stealing the people’s natural resources such as diamonds and now their penchant for ill-gotten money has led them to killing elephants and rhinos at our national parks,” she said.

“It is clear that Zanu PF is on a path to raze this nation to the ground, but, because of God, who is fighting our battles and is on our side, we are going to win this battle to have a truly democratic and God fearing Zimbabwe.

“We remain focused as the people’s party to see to it that Zimbabwe is kept from ruin and that the people’s livelihoods are back to normalcy,” she said.

Khupe urged supporters to rally behind Morgan Tsvangirai.

“I know everyone here is still mourning this defeat, I have come here to give you hope,” she said.

“We should not continue mourning. We should be hopeful like the biblical David and prepare for another fight come next elections. As it is, Zanu PF believes they have dealt us a heavy blow. My advice to you is let’s focus for another fight. We will stand by our president, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. In Matabeleland we say Tsvangirai ngenkani, ongafuniyo khayekele (If you don’t like Tsvangirai leave us alone).”