OPPOSITION parties under the National Elections Reform Agenda (Nera) banner have launched their own checks on two international companies shortlisted to supply biometric voter registration (BVR) kits to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to ascertain if they were of good repute.

Nera has since invited members of the public, international community and other companies to supply information regarding the two firms – Laxton Group Limited, a company based in China, but owned by South Africans, and Dermalog Identification Systems of Germany.

“We are calling all citizens to do their due diligence and gather as much information as you can on the two firms. Nera is currently having extensive background checks conducted on the two firms,” Nera said on its official Facebook page.

Nera has made it no secret that it does not trust Zec and the Zanu PF-led government with the procurement of the kits and said it would continue to demand transparency in the whole process.