Street vendors doing business in the bustling Mbare Musika market on the outskirts of Harare say they have been forced to register as voters in the opposition stronghold by youth militia, war veterans and troops though they reside in other areas.

Vendors from other suburbs such as Sunningdale, Kuwadzana and Mufakose said the alleged forced voter registration drive started early last week.

Mbare Member of Parliament Gift Chimanikire, a member of the Movement for Democratic change faction of Morgan Tsvangirai, said the faction’s elections director, Ian Makone, has complained to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

One vendor at Mbare Musika who is a resident of Sunningdale, speaking on condition that she not be named, told reporter Patience Rusere that ZANU-PF officials have been providing such vendors with documents indicating residency in Mbare.

More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...