HARARE, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Saturday warned observers against accosting its staff with regard to distribution of electoral material.

The Commission said it had received reports that some of the observers were interfering with the distribution and warned that this may be interpreted as interruption which is prohibited by law.

"The Commission wishes to remind all stakeholders that... it is the responsibility of the ZEC to design, print and distribute ballot papers among other functions.

"All stakeholders are also reminded to adhere to their respective codes of conduct or they risk flouting the country's laws and being stripped of their status," ZEC said.

The Commissions said in Zimbabwe's electoral system, ballot papers are accounted for to political party agents and observers prior to commencement of polling.

Zimbabwe goes to polls on July 30 and preparations for the holding of the polls are now at an advanced stage.

ZEC had accredited 830 observers as at July 7, and of these 143 are foreign.?