HARARE, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has joined many other voices in condemning the bomb attack at President Emmerson Mnangagwa's campaign rally in Bulawayo on Saturday which left two people dead and at least 47 others injured.
ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba said in a statement published Wednesday that the attack had the effect of retarding strides the country had attained towards realization of a peaceful environment.
"Such a horrific attack targeted at participants exercising their constitutional and democratic right to associate at a political rally is a drawback to electoral democracy and should not be allowed to take root in our country.
"The incident is regrettable and marks an unprecedented event in the history of the country's politics. The country had made great strides to bring stability to electoral processes but such an attack erodes the foundation of one of the pillars of a democratic society which is peace," she said.
She said Zimbabweans were peace-loving people who desired to see free, fair, credible and peaceful elections devoid of any forms of violence.
The United Nations and the African Union are among organizations that have condemned the attack which also caused injuries to one of the country's two vice presidents Kembo Mohadi, the ruling Zanu-PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and national commissar Engelbert Rugeje.
Ordinary Zimbabweans have also expressed shock at the incident saying that it had no place in civilized society.