Transparency International hails Zim govt on new voter registration exercise

Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI Z) applauds the Zimbabwean government for availing US$20 million and opening the second phase of voter registration. In the same breath TI Z urges the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and Registrar General (RG)Â’s office to conduct the electoral process in a transparent and credible manner to avoid discrepancies that characterised previous elections in Zimbabwe.

TI Z calls upon ZEC and RGÂ’s Office to ensure that the anticipated 30-day voter registration is highly publicised to all eligible voters. A massive publicity campaign should precede the voter registration exercise. This will allow eligible voters who were left out in the previous registration exercise to register. ZEC and RGÂ’s office should also conduct comprehensive voter education and publicity of the voter registration exercise to all parts of the country.

TI Z further urges ZEC and the RGÂ’s office to correct inconsistencies that characterised previous voter registration processes. In the previous exercise prospective voters were reportedly turned away for failing to produce proof of residence, despite assurances by the CommissionÂ’s Chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau, who had earlier indicated that people could be allowed to register as voters if they had affidavits showing proof of residence. TI Z believes the second phase of voter registration will address these inconsistencies.

Voter registration centres should be adequately resourced and easily accessible to all prospective voters. TI Z further commends the ward based voter registration as provided for under the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 20 as this will ensure accessibility of voter registration centres. This implies eligible voters would not have to travel long distances to register as voters. In view of this TI Z appeals to ZEC and the RG offices to provide a one-stop facility in all centres to ease the registration process. Issuance of birth certificates, national identity documents and all voter registration resources should be availed at all registration centres. More so, ZEC and RG officials should be trained to effectively execute their duties in the new voter registration exercise.

A compromised voter registration exercise impacts negatively on the conduct of credible elections. The anticipated voter registration exercise should usher a clean voterÂ’s roll which will be instrumental towards achieving free and fair elections. A clean voterÂ’s roll should be accessible for inspection by eligible voters as a way of eliminating allegations of electoral fraud which may lead to disputed election results. Contested election outcomes always lead to violence and illegitimacy of the government elected in such a manner.

TI Z trusts that resources earmarked for the second phase of voter registration will be used in a transparent manner to capacitate both ZEC and the RGÂ’s office to adequately register all eligible voters to participate in the electoral process.

TIZ implores Zimbabweans to exercise their constitutional right to take part in processes that determine how they should be governed. Relevant ministries, the legislature and the Executive are implored to support the voter registration exercise and ensure transparency in process. Relevant stakeholders should put in place meaningful measures that will ensure citizen participation in all electoral and democratic processes if free and fair elections are to be conducted in Zimbabwe.