Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rejected demands by the opposition for reforms before the July 30 elections, saying ‘the playing field is perfectly level.’

President Mnangagwa, who took over from long time ruler Robert Mugabe in November last year after a brief military takeover, spoke after thousands of opposition supporters marched in Harare on Tuesday demanding poll reforms.

The ruling Zanu-PF leader said the march by the MDC Alliance was an indication that Zimbabwe was now a democracy.

“They are enjoying democracy, which exists in this country,” President Mnangagwa told the state-controlled Herald newspaper.

“I think they are so happy that there is an environment where they can express themselves right, left and centre,” he added.

Ballot papers

“But of course in relation to the forthcoming elections, already less than two weeks, I signed into law the reforms relating to the Electoral Act, so the playing field is perfectly level.”

The MDC Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa, is demanding equal access to the state-controlled media and transparency on the printing of ballot papers, among other guarantees, before the General Election.

Opposition parties want the new voters roll produced after the adoption of the biometric registration to be audited by an independent body.

President Mnangagwa’s opponents were also unhappy about the alleged presence of military personnel at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Deployment of soldiers

President Mnangagwa has been pledging that his government will deliver credible elections since taking over from Mr Mugabe, but critics say he has not translated words into action two months before the election.

The pre-election period has remained peaceful, but the opposition has complained about the alleged deployment of soldiers in rural constituencies where they were reportedly campaigning for Zanu-PF.

On Wednesday, Zanu-PF was organising its own march ''demanding free and fair elections”.

The ruling party accuses the opposition of trying to tilt the playing field into their favour.

Major contestants

“We are going to have a march for peace, free and fair elections,” Zanu-PF youth secretary Pupurai Togarepi said.

“Some parties are aware that they will lose the forthcoming elections and now they want the ground tilted in their favour.”

The forthcoming elections will be the first since 2002 in which Mr Mugabe and late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will not be the major contestants.