News / Regional
Poor registration figures in Matabeleland a cause for concern
29 Oct 2017 at 17:09hrs | Views
Community Youth Development Trust has expressed concerns over the continued low turn out of people in Matabeleland to register to vote saying this should be a cause for concern for all political parties eying the region.
The organisation said an election is a game of numbers.
"One who garners more numbers than the other is the winner. It is as simple as that. Therefore, this BVR blitz in Matabeleland should be a cause of concern to any politician intending to contest as numbers of registrants are just too low. One thing that has been noted is that our politicians have joined the band wagon of observers and monitors forgetting that their main thrust is to mobilize people to go and register to vote… these are the numbers that we are talking about. As CYDT has taken it up with the local Community Youth Advocates structures to mobilize and educate fellow youths on what BVR entails," said the organisation.
"This has been more useful as majority of those engaged have registered as voters in Gwanda town, Beitbridge, Plumtree, Mzingwane, Insiza North and South. The process is an ongoing one where the organization envisage to put more ward structures so that all youths are reached out. As we conduct this, we are clear that we are not aligned to any political party what we need is to get young people participating effectively and actively in such processes so as to determine their future destiny."
The organisation said in iots observation Phase 1 of the BVR Blitz is came to an end and it is so disheartening that people in Insiza did not really come out in large numbers to register.
"This is not the problem as per say but the problem is lack of organization between the ZEC and Registrar Generals offices. Most people in Insiza were turned away from registering because of lack of documents. Most youths in Insiza do not have IDs for one reason or another. These Youths have been banking on the mobile registration teams to get to their community before the BVR process begun so that they can also be able to register but alas the registrar's mobile teams have not yet set their foot in Insiza, much to the dismay of youths, while the Filabusi district Registrar's office make young people wait for 20 days for them to get their ID processed," the organisation said.
"The idea of having the registrar office going ahead of the BVR blitz was so that people fix their documents and then register without any hassles. This was not done and numbers have been affected. As Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) an organization that promotes effective and active participation of youths in economic, social and political issues we would like to urge ZEC to return back to Insiza in a special blitz programme. ZEC officials in most registration centers spent most of their days lazing around because there wasn't much work to do. This should be worrying. We also pledge to continue with massive voter education on our part. ZEC should also do such before this special blitz programme."
The organisation said an election is a game of numbers.
"One who garners more numbers than the other is the winner. It is as simple as that. Therefore, this BVR blitz in Matabeleland should be a cause of concern to any politician intending to contest as numbers of registrants are just too low. One thing that has been noted is that our politicians have joined the band wagon of observers and monitors forgetting that their main thrust is to mobilize people to go and register to vote… these are the numbers that we are talking about. As CYDT has taken it up with the local Community Youth Advocates structures to mobilize and educate fellow youths on what BVR entails," said the organisation.
The organisation said in iots observation Phase 1 of the BVR Blitz is came to an end and it is so disheartening that people in Insiza did not really come out in large numbers to register.
"This is not the problem as per say but the problem is lack of organization between the ZEC and Registrar Generals offices. Most people in Insiza were turned away from registering because of lack of documents. Most youths in Insiza do not have IDs for one reason or another. These Youths have been banking on the mobile registration teams to get to their community before the BVR process begun so that they can also be able to register but alas the registrar's mobile teams have not yet set their foot in Insiza, much to the dismay of youths, while the Filabusi district Registrar's office make young people wait for 20 days for them to get their ID processed," the organisation said.
"The idea of having the registrar office going ahead of the BVR blitz was so that people fix their documents and then register without any hassles. This was not done and numbers have been affected. As Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT) an organization that promotes effective and active participation of youths in economic, social and political issues we would like to urge ZEC to return back to Insiza in a special blitz programme. ZEC officials in most registration centers spent most of their days lazing around because there wasn't much work to do. This should be worrying. We also pledge to continue with massive voter education on our part. ZEC should also do such before this special blitz programme."
Source - Byo24News
