News / National
Zec challenged to reveal ballot paper printer
15 May 2018 at 07:14hrs | Views
LEGISLATIVE watchdog, Veritas, has called on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to reveal the name of the ballot paper printers "now" as there was "no legitimate reason" why it should not do so.
The call by Veritas came at a time Zec was delaying to disclose the identity of the ballot paper printers regardless of the fact that the date for harmonised elections was fast approaching.
Elections are due by August 21, 2018, according to Veritas.
"This secrecy over which supplier is printing ballot papers has fed into the opposition's lack of trust in Zec," the body said recently in a statement.
Veritas said as stated in the first paragraph, section 52A of the Electoral Act states that the Commission shall without delay provide the following information to all political parties and candidates contesting an election, and to all observers (a) where and by whom the ballot papers for the election have been or are being printed; and (b) the total number of ballot papers that have been printed for the election; and (c) the number of ballot papers that have been distributed to each polling station.
In addition, Veritas said once the Electoral Amendment Bill becomes law Zec must ensure that "the number of ballot papers printed for any election does not exceed by more than ten per centum the number of registered voters eligible to vote in the election."
"This means that eventually Zec will have to divulge these details. But there is no legitimate reason why Zec should not reveal now the name of the printers selected," it said.
"There is also nothing in the law that prevents Zec from allowing a few independent observers to monitor the printing. This would go a long way to establishing trust with political parties and the general public."
The call by Veritas came at a time Zec was delaying to disclose the identity of the ballot paper printers regardless of the fact that the date for harmonised elections was fast approaching.
Elections are due by August 21, 2018, according to Veritas.
"This secrecy over which supplier is printing ballot papers has fed into the opposition's lack of trust in Zec," the body said recently in a statement.
Veritas said as stated in the first paragraph, section 52A of the Electoral Act states that the Commission shall without delay provide the following information to all political parties and candidates contesting an election, and to all observers (a) where and by whom the ballot papers for the election have been or are being printed; and (b) the total number of ballot papers that have been printed for the election; and (c) the number of ballot papers that have been distributed to each polling station.
In addition, Veritas said once the Electoral Amendment Bill becomes law Zec must ensure that "the number of ballot papers printed for any election does not exceed by more than ten per centum the number of registered voters eligible to vote in the election."
"This means that eventually Zec will have to divulge these details. But there is no legitimate reason why Zec should not reveal now the name of the printers selected," it said.
"There is also nothing in the law that prevents Zec from allowing a few independent observers to monitor the printing. This would go a long way to establishing trust with political parties and the general public."
Source - newsday
