(Xinhua) -- Over 50,000 individuals have applied for accreditation as local observers for Zimbabwe's presidential election run-off set for June 27 while the government said on Tuesday it would cut the number by 80 percent. | Who needs observers? Result is already known ... |
In the March 29 harmonized elections, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission set up 9,158 polling stations countrywide. 'Given the situation, it is clear that our electoral system cannot accommodate that number without disturbing the smooth flow of the electoral system,' he said.
The minister added that the government would also take the opportunity to screen the local observers. 'We want to be clear and sure that they are independent,' he said. 'Observation can only be conferred to those who are neutral, who have no preconceived views about the situation they are going to observe.'