Harare - Five observers from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and 19 other South Africans aligned to Zimbabwe's Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice are among 233 observers barred by the Zimbabwean government from monitoring the parliamentary elections.
The state-owned Herald newspaper said another 40 observers from the newly formed Electoral Commission Forum of Southern African Development Community countries were also denied accreditation.
The South Africans join 17 Kenyan and Nigerian observers who were barred earlier this week and 40 others from the United States' National Democratic Institution and the International Republican Institute.
The chairperson of the Electoral Directorate, Mariyawanda Nzuwa, told the independent Daily News paper that the government had barred all representatives of non-governmental organisations from observing the elections.
However, members of the non-governental organisations were free to move around the country, "but will not be accorded the rights and privilege of observers".
The Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice will meet members of the South African parliamentary observer team which was accredited last week.
Cosatu spokesperson Siphiwe Mgcina said in Johannesburg that he could not comment on the matter until he received confirmation from the delegation. - Sapa