Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) supporters chant the party’s slogans as MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai addresses thousands of supporters at his last campaign rally before elections set for July 31, in Harare, Monday, July, 29, 2013. Tsvangirai said he was confident of victory against his main opponent President Robert Mugabe (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe’s prime minister says he doesn’t trust the nation’s state electoral body to conduct free and fair elections on Wednesday and he called for their resignation.
Speaking to more than 50,000 supporters at his last rally in downtown Harare, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Monday he feared the same vote rigging in these elections that that mired previous violent and disputed elections in 2008. He said the state Electoral Commission had shown its lack of preparedness after chaos marred early voting on July 14 and 15 for uniformed services on duty July 31.
Tsvangirai, 61, faces long-time President Robert Mugabe, 89, and two other minor candidates in presidential polls.
He warned of political unrest if people are turned away from the polls and suspect any rigging.
