News / National
Inmates set to vote in the forthcoming elections
09 Jun 2013 at 06:40hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), in consultation with other stakeholders, is working on modalities to enable the 17 000 prisoners countrywide to vote in the forthcoming harmonised elections.
This follows the adoption of the new Constitution whose provisions restore political rights to inmates.
Chapter 4, Section 4.18 of the new charter states that every Zimbabwean has the right to vote.
Zec chief elections officer Mr Lovemore Sekeramayi confirmed his Commission was working to facilitate voting for prisoners.
"It is true that prisoners have the right to vote under the Constitution, but, at the moment, we are in the process of making and coming up with mechanisms to extend that voting process to them," he said.
Another Zec official, who preferred anonymity, said consultations were still in progress since the Constitutional requirement was new.
"Zec is obliged by the Constitution to let inmates vote.
"However, one has to understand that we have over 15 000 inmates countrywide," said the official.
"It is not a matter of us just walking into prisons and letting them cast their votes during elections.
"It is a process that involves having inmates secure identity cards, establishing the various wards or constituencies they belong to and whether they are aware of the candidates they are going to vote for and even educating them on the political environment outside prison.
"We are also working on how various political parties will campaign in all the prisons countrywide, meaning we need to involve security during such processes and these things need a tight budget."
Justice and Legal Affairs Deputy Minister Mr Obert Gutu said his ministry was working closely with Zec over the matter.
"As a ministry, we are now working with Zec to craft measures that do not end up compromising the welfare of our inmates and their security considering that they will now belong to various political parties," he said.
This follows the adoption of the new Constitution whose provisions restore political rights to inmates.
Chapter 4, Section 4.18 of the new charter states that every Zimbabwean has the right to vote.
Zec chief elections officer Mr Lovemore Sekeramayi confirmed his Commission was working to facilitate voting for prisoners.
"It is true that prisoners have the right to vote under the Constitution, but, at the moment, we are in the process of making and coming up with mechanisms to extend that voting process to them," he said.
Another Zec official, who preferred anonymity, said consultations were still in progress since the Constitutional requirement was new.
"Zec is obliged by the Constitution to let inmates vote.
"However, one has to understand that we have over 15 000 inmates countrywide," said the official.
"It is not a matter of us just walking into prisons and letting them cast their votes during elections.
"It is a process that involves having inmates secure identity cards, establishing the various wards or constituencies they belong to and whether they are aware of the candidates they are going to vote for and even educating them on the political environment outside prison.
"We are also working on how various political parties will campaign in all the prisons countrywide, meaning we need to involve security during such processes and these things need a tight budget."
Justice and Legal Affairs Deputy Minister Mr Obert Gutu said his ministry was working closely with Zec over the matter.
"As a ministry, we are now working with Zec to craft measures that do not end up compromising the welfare of our inmates and their security considering that they will now belong to various political parties," he said.
Source - Sunday Mail
