Zimbabwe govt urged to halt constitutional amendments

The Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government to reconsider its proposed amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act, which aim to introduce automatic voter registration for 18-year-olds ahead of the 2028 elections.

In its latest report, ZESN expressed concern over the government's plan to shift the responsibility for voter registration from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Civil Registry Department (CRD). The proposed changes would see the CRD automatically registering new voters upon reaching the age of 18, while also facilitating the automatic removal of deceased individuals from the voters' roll upon the issuance of a death certificate.

ZESN argued that the responsibility for voter registration should remain with ZEC, as the proposed shift to CRD would be a retrogressive move. The elections watchdog emphasized that such a shift could undermine the independence of the electoral process and create complications in maintaining an accurate and inclusive voters' roll.

"Instead of taking a retrogressive approach, the focus should be geared towards improving issues and systems that have been heavily contested in courts, such as availing the voters roll on time, especially to political parties," ZESN said in the report.

The proposed constitutional amendments are seen as part of efforts to increase voter registration levels and simplify the process. However, ZESN expressed concern that the move would not address existing electoral challenges, such as the delayed availability of the voters' roll and the need for comprehensive and transparent electoral processes.

ZESN also noted that the Constitution of Zimbabwe has already been amended twice in the past decade, with the most recent Amendment No. 2 introducing 23 changes. The organization cautioned against frequent amendments to the supreme law of the land, warning that piecemeal electoral-related changes could destabilize the electoral framework.

"Rather than seeking to amend the Constitution, strengthening ZEC should be considered as the priority," ZESN argued. "For operational efficiency, ZEC, which is responsible for running elections, should conduct voter registration and the compilation of the voters' roll. However, it should closely collaborate with the CRD in order to automatically register new voters and remove deceased individuals, ensuring a more accurate register."

ZESN's position reflects broader concerns about the proposed amendments and their potential impact on electoral integrity. The organization called for a more comprehensive electoral reform approach, in line with Zimbabwe's Constitution and regional standards set by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

The elections watchdog urged restraint in making continual or significant changes to the Constitution, stressing that a stable and transparent electoral system is essential for fostering public trust and confidence in the country's democratic processes.