News / Local
Zec suspends voter registration
23 Nov 2021 at 05:58hrs | Views
THE suspension of the December 6 voter registration blitz by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has raised concern amid suspicion that it could be the work of a hidden political hand meant to block unregistered youths from participating in the upcoming by-elections.
Zimbabwe is expected to hold by-elections in the first quarter of 2022, and harmonised elections the following year that are being touted as watershed.
Zec previously announced that it would begin a voter registration blitz next month, but on November 17, a memo by the electoral management body seen by NewsDay announced the suspension of the exercise.
Although no further details were given on the suspension of the exercise, electoral watchdog, Election Resource Centre (ERC) and political analysts raised concern, saying the cancellation could be meant to block youths from registering to vote following a massive campaign by the civic society and the opposition to get young people to register to vote ahead of the 2023 elections.
"Please be advised that the mobile biometric voter registration exercise, which was scheduled for December 6, 2021, has been rescheduled to a later date to be announced in due course," a statement addressed to the executive directors and deputy directors from the commission's acting chief executive officer Jane Chigidji read in part.
However, the commission further stated that the current enumeration area-to-polling area alignment and alpha list updating exercise will continue as per schedule.
ERC said the suspension of voter registration would be a missed opportunity to register new voters.
"ERC notes with dismay at the postponement of the voter registration blitz scheduled to begin on December 6, 2021, which was aimed at addressing under-registration and affording new voters, who have turned 18, a chance to register.
"Voter registration is arguably one of the most important pre-election activities as it ensures equitable participation in elections, enhances voter turnout and impacts on the delimitation of constituency boundaries," the ERC statement read.
The election lobby group said COVID-19 had already brought problems to the administration of voter registration and the country could not afford to take any more chances on the matter.
"With murmurs of a (COVID-19) fourth wave hitting Zimbabwe after the festive period, the postponement of the December voter registration blitz is a missed opportunity," ERC said.
It said the voter registration blitz was an opportunity for Zec to take advantage of the low COVID-19 infection rates, implement and test the effectiveness of their COVID-19 policy on electoral activities and overcome the challenges induced by the pandemic.
Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the move by Zec to cancel voter registration was a clear indication of a sinister agenda by the electoral commission's suspected handlers.
"It confirms the concerns of the opposition and civic society and lack of trust that the public has on Zec," Mukundu said.
"The postponement is part of the political manipulation and an intention to suppress the vote, especially the youth vote, and there has been a lot of vibe, especially on social media mainly by opposition parties for young people to vote. Zanu-PF is very much aware that this registration process, especially for young people will not turn out in its favour at the ballot.
"So, the intention is to make an announcement intended to pacify the opposition, civic society and the international community and renege on those promises. It is a clear indication that Zec is not independent in its planning and thinking, and was likely getting instructions from somewhere on how to act. Without a coherent response and explanation on why it is doing this, we can certainly see the political manipulation from especially Zanu-PF," he said.
Zanu-PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha was not picking calls last night, but MDC Alliance deputy party spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said his party would issue a statement on the issue today.
The suspension of the voter registration came as the opposition has raised concern on the attitude of the electoral commission in its discharge of electoral duties. The MDC Alliance also raised concern over arrests of party supporters conducting voter registration campaigns across the country.
Over the weekend, six MDC Alliance supporters were arrested in Epworth and are expected to appear in court today. Their lawyer, Darlington Marange said police initially wanted to charge them for unlawful gathering, but changed to assault.
"They are changing goalposts; they initially said they wanted to charge them for unlawful gathering, but have changed," he said.
In June, three MDC Alliance Bulawayo youths were arrested conducting a door-to-door voter registration campaign, while over 70 opposition supporters were arrested in Chitungwiza in October undertaking the same exercise.
On the arrest of the six in Epworth on Sunday, MDC Alliance chairperson for Harare province Wellington Chikombo said: "The police have decided to be co-opted into the Zanu-PF system and, therefore, abdicating their responsibility by acting as an appendage of this party. They must follow the law and ensure they uphold the Constitution without fear or favour."
Zimbabwe is expected to hold by-elections in the first quarter of 2022, and harmonised elections the following year that are being touted as watershed.
Zec previously announced that it would begin a voter registration blitz next month, but on November 17, a memo by the electoral management body seen by NewsDay announced the suspension of the exercise.
Although no further details were given on the suspension of the exercise, electoral watchdog, Election Resource Centre (ERC) and political analysts raised concern, saying the cancellation could be meant to block youths from registering to vote following a massive campaign by the civic society and the opposition to get young people to register to vote ahead of the 2023 elections.
"Please be advised that the mobile biometric voter registration exercise, which was scheduled for December 6, 2021, has been rescheduled to a later date to be announced in due course," a statement addressed to the executive directors and deputy directors from the commission's acting chief executive officer Jane Chigidji read in part.
However, the commission further stated that the current enumeration area-to-polling area alignment and alpha list updating exercise will continue as per schedule.
ERC said the suspension of voter registration would be a missed opportunity to register new voters.
"ERC notes with dismay at the postponement of the voter registration blitz scheduled to begin on December 6, 2021, which was aimed at addressing under-registration and affording new voters, who have turned 18, a chance to register.
"Voter registration is arguably one of the most important pre-election activities as it ensures equitable participation in elections, enhances voter turnout and impacts on the delimitation of constituency boundaries," the ERC statement read.
The election lobby group said COVID-19 had already brought problems to the administration of voter registration and the country could not afford to take any more chances on the matter.
"With murmurs of a (COVID-19) fourth wave hitting Zimbabwe after the festive period, the postponement of the December voter registration blitz is a missed opportunity," ERC said.
It said the voter registration blitz was an opportunity for Zec to take advantage of the low COVID-19 infection rates, implement and test the effectiveness of their COVID-19 policy on electoral activities and overcome the challenges induced by the pandemic.
Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the move by Zec to cancel voter registration was a clear indication of a sinister agenda by the electoral commission's suspected handlers.
"It confirms the concerns of the opposition and civic society and lack of trust that the public has on Zec," Mukundu said.
"The postponement is part of the political manipulation and an intention to suppress the vote, especially the youth vote, and there has been a lot of vibe, especially on social media mainly by opposition parties for young people to vote. Zanu-PF is very much aware that this registration process, especially for young people will not turn out in its favour at the ballot.
"So, the intention is to make an announcement intended to pacify the opposition, civic society and the international community and renege on those promises. It is a clear indication that Zec is not independent in its planning and thinking, and was likely getting instructions from somewhere on how to act. Without a coherent response and explanation on why it is doing this, we can certainly see the political manipulation from especially Zanu-PF," he said.
Zanu-PF acting spokesperson Mike Bimha was not picking calls last night, but MDC Alliance deputy party spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba said his party would issue a statement on the issue today.
The suspension of the voter registration came as the opposition has raised concern on the attitude of the electoral commission in its discharge of electoral duties. The MDC Alliance also raised concern over arrests of party supporters conducting voter registration campaigns across the country.
Over the weekend, six MDC Alliance supporters were arrested in Epworth and are expected to appear in court today. Their lawyer, Darlington Marange said police initially wanted to charge them for unlawful gathering, but changed to assault.
"They are changing goalposts; they initially said they wanted to charge them for unlawful gathering, but have changed," he said.
In June, three MDC Alliance Bulawayo youths were arrested conducting a door-to-door voter registration campaign, while over 70 opposition supporters were arrested in Chitungwiza in October undertaking the same exercise.
On the arrest of the six in Epworth on Sunday, MDC Alliance chairperson for Harare province Wellington Chikombo said: "The police have decided to be co-opted into the Zanu-PF system and, therefore, abdicating their responsibility by acting as an appendage of this party. They must follow the law and ensure they uphold the Constitution without fear or favour."
Source - NewsDay Zimbabwe
