MDC wants an audit of ballot papers

The MDC suspects that millions of additional ballot papers printed may be used to rig the polls

Zimbabwe's opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is to file an urgent application with the Harare High Court demanding a full audit of all ballot papers to be used in Saturday's election. The party suspects that millions of additional ballot papers that have been printed may be used to rig the polls.

However, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission insists that the extra ballots were printed as a contingency measure.

The opposition is also to ask the court to compel the commission to open up the voters' roll for a thorough audit.

The MDC alleges that the voters' roll contains the names of hundreds of deceased Zimbabweans.