APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Opposition Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) leader Douglas Mwonzora pulled out of Zimbabwe’s presidential race on Tuesday, alleging irregularities in the management of the electoral process.
Mwonzora told journalists in Harare that his decision to withdraw from the race – which coincides with elections for members of parliament and local government councillors on August 23 – was influenced by what he called “massive disenfranchisement (and) mass disqualification” of people by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
He accused ZEC of refusing to accept nomination papers for 87 MDC-T candidates for the National Assembly, meaning that even if he won the presidency he would not have control of parliament.
“We are not going to be part of the baptism, blessing of this sham. This election is a farce,” Mwonzora said.
The opposition leader also accused ZEC of manipulating constituency boundaries through the delimitation exercise.
“I believe that the mass disenfranchisement of our people, the discrimination of one party by the election management body, and with the concurrence of my party, I have withdrawn my candidature in this election,” Mwonzora said.
He added: “We are boycotting this farce, we are boycotting this sham, we are boycotting this presidential election.”
Ironically, the 24 MDC-T members who successfully filed nomination papers would contest the election.
JN/APA