ZEC Starts Moving Ballot Boxes to Zimbabwe ProvincesHARARE — The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it is ready to conduct credible, free and fair elections on July 31, noting that it has started moving ballot papers, boxes and other election material to provinces around the country. Briefing local and foreign observers on the commission’s preparedness for the upcoming national elections, ZEC deputy chairperson Joyce Kazembe, said despite limited time, the electoral body has adequately prepared and is ready to go. She said the commission’s resource constraints have been addressed. Commissioner Bessie Nhandara, who chairs electoral body’s finance committee, explains that though ZEC has received $58 million of the more than $130 million it required for the elections, things are moving smoothly. Kazembe said the voters roll is currently being printed and should be distributed to polling stations three days before actual polling. Responding to questions about the number of people on the voters roll and whether individuals and political parties would be allowed to scrutinise the roll, Kazembe said that was not possible, adding inspection should have been done during the voter registration and inspection exercise which ended on 10 July. She admitted that not all of the registered the 6.4 million voters would be able to vote as some of them were either dead or out of the country. Kazembe admitted ZEC had bungled during the special vote for members of the uniformed services and will approach the constitutional court so that the 26, 160 who failed to vote can be given a chance to vote on July 31. Only 37,108 of the 63,268 people authorised for special balloting voted. Meanwhile Kazembe said the commission has so far approved for accreditation about 19,000 local and foreign observers. Those accredited so are 6,650 local and 589 foreign observers. A total 294 local and 28 foreign journalists have been accredited so far. Kazembe appealed to those who have been approved to go and register and not to wait until last minute.