HARARE, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Zimbabwean opposition MDC Alliance supporters on Tuesday took to the streets of the capital Harare demanding broader electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections set for July 30.
The demonstrators marched from Africa Unity Square to the offices of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) where the party leadership presented a petition demanding reforms.
The supporters then proceeded to the presidential seat of power at Munhumutapa Building where officials also presented the 10-point petition to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa told supporters afterwards that his party will not participate in the election if their demand for a transparent vote is not addressed.
He said the party will stage more demonstrations to pile pressure on Mnangagwa and the ZEC to implement the reforms.
Among others, the opposition is demanding transparency in the printing of ballot papers by getting involved in the process, independent audit of the voters' roll, equitable media coverage for all political parties, diaspora vote and removal of military personnel at ZEC.
Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court last week ruled that Zimbabweans living outside the country can not vote in the July elections from their bases abroad.
This was after some Zimbabweans living abroad had brought an application before the court arguing that the constitution adopted in 2013 entitled them to vote from outside the country.
President Mnangagwa has also said his government does not have the capacity to conduct diaspora vote but promised that in the future those outside the country will be allowed to vote from their foreign bases.
ZEC has previously also dismissed the demand by the opposition to be involved in the printing of ballot papers, saying this was not provided for in the law.
