WASHINGTON DC —
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it will dispatch 70,000 polling officers and supervisors to 9,449 polling stations around the country on Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s constitutional referendum.
ZEC acting chairperson Mrs. Joice Kazembe confirmed the move to VOA Studio 7 but referred most questions to ZEC chief executive officer Lovemore Sekeramayi, who requested written questions.
The bulk of the polling officers and supervisors, who are currently being trained, was drawn from civil servants.
Election Resource Centre director Tawanda Chimhini told VOA they are so far satisfied with ZEC's preparations.
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Interview With Tawanda Chimhini
But National Constitutional Assembly spokesman Madock Chivasa said his organization is not satisfied with the preparations and will not change its position on the constitution despite filing a High Court application to stop the referendum which will be heard Wednesday.
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Interview With Madock Chivasa
Meanwhile, some VOA Studio 7 listeners say they are yet to lay their hands on the draft charter. Gogo Lilian Matutu is one of them. She said COPAC should have put a mechanism in place to cater for the elderly and vulnerable groups.
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Interview With Lilian Matutu
Edward Katengwe, another listener in Mount Pleasant, Harare, said although he has heard family and friends discuss the draft, he has not been able to access a copy.
