Zimbabwe to end voter registration for July 30 elections

HARARE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said Wednesday voter registration for the July 30 national polls ends on June 1.

ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba said changes to the recently promulgated Electoral Act stipulate that voter registration closes two days after proclamation of the election date.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday set July 30, 2018 as the date for national polls to choose the President, National Assembly members and councilors.

"It therefore means that the registration of voters for the purposes of the 2018 harmonized elections shall close on June. 1 2018," she said.

"However those that are going to register after the cut-off date will be considered for future elections," she added.

Voter registration started in September last year and about 5.4 million people have so far registered to vote in the July 30 election.

Chigumba said the two-days until June 1 would afford those who failed to inspect the voters' roll from May 19 to 29 a chance to do so.

ZEC was ready for the elections whose budget is 198 million U.S. dollars, Chigumba said.

She added that the electoral body had identified regional companies that will supply ballot papers and ink to be used in the voting process.

The electoral body would also provide the final voters' roll to candidates who will have successfully filed their names to contest in the elections. Enditem