Zimbabwe Electoral Commission beefs up poll arsenal

Zimbabwe has begun printing ballot papers for the July 31 harmonised elections in line with a comprehensive plan aimed at ensuring all polling materials are delivered throughout the country at least three days before the plebiscite.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has secured the services of additional companies to complete the printing of the eight million ballot papers required for the poll.

The Commission is also expected to take delivery of voting ink today while 30 000 ballot boxes will be dispatched to the respective polling stations three days before the elections. In addition, the election drivers are working to secure about 2 000 vehicles to cover each of the country's wards.

They will also expeditiously channel allowances to polling officers as was the case during last week's Special Vote. In a wide-ranging interview last week, Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau, who ruled out the possibility of rigging, reassured stakeholders that her Commission will conduct a credible election.

She said the challenges experienced during the Special Vote, which disenfranchised 40 000 prospective voters, largely emanated from printing problems, adding that comprehensive steps have already been taken to ensure a hassle-free poll on July 31.

"We are ready as we were before. The printing of ballot papers has started and Fidelity Printers is already printing the ballot papers for the Presidential and National Assembly.

"The broad principle is that we are being guided by the voter population and the voter registration exercise. Over and above that, we will then add a margin of 35 percent so that we do not run short. We are waiting for the final figures from the Registrar General's Office.

"At the last count, we were at 6, 187 million. So, that is the figure we are currently using to say 6,2 million plus 35 percent. That is just above eight million ballot papers."

Justice Makarau said Zec has secured the services of additional printers to complement Fidelity Printers and Printflow, the two companies that were responsible for printing Special Vote ballots.

She said it was important to engage more players because the two firms failed to deliver, resulting in the serious hiccups experienced during the Special Vote.

"In terms of printing of ballot papers, we had problems during Special Voting because the printers let us down. We have decided to diversify and look for additional support. We have informed all stakeholders.

"We are also obligated by the law to inform the public who is going to print the ballot papers and we will be definitely looking at additional providers."

She added that 30 000 ballot boxes are in the custody of the Commission. Most of the boxes are already at Zec provincial offices after having been used during the March 16 Constitutional referendum.

Justice Makarau castigated some non-governmental organisations for inflating the number of their observers to get huge chunks of donor funds.

More than six million Zimbabweans are expected to cast their ballots in the harmonised polls under a dispensation that will see the election of Presidential, National Assembly and Council candidates.

Senators, 60 National Assembly candidates and Provincial Council aspirants will secure seats based on the proportional representation model.