Respect Zimbabwe election process - ANC

Makoni addresses supporters during his election campaign in Zimbabwe

The ANC says everyone should respect the right of Zimbabweans to conduct elections in the manner they see fit. The ruling party was responding to remarks by South African opposition parties who have expressed concern that the conditions in Zimbabwe, ahead of Saturday's crucial poll, are not conducive to the holding of free and fair elections.

Zimbabwe's opposition the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) has also cited concerns over the expected presence of police officers in voting booths on the day of elections, as well as the excess printing of ballot papers. However, the country's Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, has again dismissed opposition concerns about alleged government plans to rig the vote.

ANC National spokesperson Jesse Duarte said: "So my understanding is that there would've been agreement on who enters into the voting booths, under what conditions and for what purpose. It would be best if we as South Africans respected the rights of Zimbabweans to conduct the elections in a manner they see fit and of course the observer missions, including SADC, are there and we hope that they will bring back an objective perspective of what really happened."

Amnesty International has since warned that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly are being restricted in the run-up to elections in Zimbabwe. The organisation has urged Zimbabwean police to respect the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly of all candidates.

Borders and learners affected
Meanwhile, the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe in Limpopo has put contingency plans in place in case Zimbabweans cross in large numbers for Saturday's elections. The staff complement of members of the Home Affairs Department, SARS and police has almost been doubled as 43 000 Zimbabwean nationals were reported to have gone back to vote in the weekend elections.

Some learners in Masvingo Province outside Zimbabwe's capital in Harare say they hope that Saturday's elections will help end the teachers' strike. Schools were closed for the Easter Holidays but some teachers have still not been reporting for work. They are on strike in protest against the minimal salaries that they are getting. Some learners are now fearing that if the strike continues beyond the elections, they will be negatively affected.