CNN a global television news channel together with South African commercial television station, e TV – have been denied permission to cover this week's parliamentary and presidential elections in Zimbabwe.

The official, who did not want to be named, gave no reason for the government's decision to bar CNN from the crucial vote.

"CNN regrets the Zimbabwean government's decision to deny us permission to enter the country to cover the parliamentary and presidential elections on Saturday March 29th. We hope that the government will reconsider its decision. CNN will continue to cover the elections as widely as possible from South Africa and surrounding countries," reads a statement by CNN.

South Africa's independent station ETV and British TV networks ITV and Sky all said they had been denied permission to cover the elections which are being held jointly to choose the country’s next President, parliamentarians, senators and local government representatives.

Wessel Vannenberg, owner of ATS helicopters, told CNN that all paperwork and flight plans had been filed ahead of time with the authorities. He said police gave no reason for their actions.

Movement for Democratic Change, a Zimbabwean opposition party, had hired the helicopter to fly their leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, to campaign rallies, according to Vannenberg.

As a result, the MDC was forced to cancel four rallies in Matabeleland North, he said.

The pilot, Brent Smyth, was allowed to fly from Bulawayo to Harare early Monday morning before being arrested in the capital.

Vannenberg said the pilot was arrested at 7 a.m. at Charles Prince Airport outside Harare and that the helicopter was grounded.

Smyth, a South African national, has been taken to Harare Central Police station, Vannenberg said.

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