ZEC boss Priscilla Chigumba has lashed out at MDC MPs for demonstrating against her saying they were merely posturing. "People ar...
ZEC boss Priscilla Chigumba has lashed out at MDC MPs for demonstrating
against her saying they were merely posturing.
"People are entitled to their opinions and are free to
demonstrate as the constitution allows for freedom of expression. However, it is worrying to observe that some people still
believe that their party’s victory was stolen by the commission despite due
process being followed.
The commission is convinced that it had strongly rebuffed
evidence to the allegations raised by the applicant, who unfortunately, could
not back up his claim to the satisfaction of the Constitutional Court.
It was not justified
and I am convinced that they know the truth and are aware that the elections
were professionally conducted in accordance with the laws of the country.
Their behaviour can best be explained as political
posturing meant to ingratiate themselves with their supporters for reasons best
known to them. Our conscience is clear. As I said, everyone is entitled to
their own opinion and expression.
However, I think it is grossly unfair to hurl
unsubstantiated accusations at someone under the guise of exercising freedom of
expression. Every public official will inevitably be subjected to
scrutiny about the manner in which they discharge their duties.
To a certain extent, public officials’ conduct must be
beyond reproach. However, I hold the considered view that there is an
invisible line which must never be crossed.
Unfortunately, it was crossed not for purposes of achieving
any positive outcome, but purely to feed misogynistic prejudices and to
maliciously distort a well-managed process and its outcome by sore losers.
The social media was used to peddle falsehoods, hatred and
threats on a fellow commissioner and on my person. However, I was not
physically harmed by anyone."
She was speaking to the Standard.
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