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ZEC's main offices 'empty'
10/04/2008 15:00 - (SA)
Susan Njanji
Harare - While Zimbabwe's electoral commission says it is still collating presidential votes, its main counting office is empty of staff and the sign that once boasted "National Command Centre" hangs no more.
Eleven days after Zimbabweans flocked to the polls, a few chairs and a tablecloth or two were all that attested to the commission's operation at Harare's international conference centre.
Workers from a neighbouring five-star hotel were clearing away debris and a few police idled around outside, but everyone said commission staff packed up and left on Tuesday.
"We have scaled down because most of the people were support staff for the house of assembly, senatorial and council results," commission chairperson George Chiweshe admitted.
"Presidential results are being worked on but I can't say much about that because there is a court case pending," he said, adding that work was ongoing at the body's permanent offices in downtown Harare.
Makoni: I am quite lost
Chiweshe was referring to a legal bid by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to force the result of the March 29 presidential election, which its leader Morgan Tsvangirai claimed to have won.
While a judge had heard the case, he had said Monday was the earliest he could give a ruling.
Robert Mugabe's opponents in the presidential race had expressed bewilderment at the continued delays and the empty conference centre.
"I am quite lost," admitted former finance minister Simba Makoni, who quit President Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF to run against him as an independent.
"There is no more work taking place in that place... and it gets me very worried and I believe other political contestants are similarly worried that it is taking so long and why it is taking so long is not known," he said.
- AFP
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