A top Zimbabwean election official has resigned over the conduct of elections in an explicit condemnation of President Robert Mugabe's anticipated win.
In a letter sent to Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, seen by AFP today, Mkhululi Nyathi, a member of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, said the polls on Wednesday did not meet the benchmarks of fairness.
"I do not wish to enumerate the many reasons for my resignation, but they all have to do with the manner (in which) the ... Elections were proclaimed and conducted," Nyathi wrote.
"Throughout the whole process I retained some measure of hope that the integrity of the whole process could be salvaged along the way. This was not to be, hence my considered decision to resign."
Nyathi, one of nine members of the electoral commission, said his resignation had nothing to do with the outcome of the process.
"I wish, through this letter, to salute the people of Zimbabwe for conducting themselves with dignity and calm throughout the whole process.
"However, these are not only the benchmarks for free, fair and legitimate elections.
