Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabwe Election Commission caught with their pants down
13 Jul 2018 at 01:45hrs | Views
Whistle blowers from ZRP Ross Camp in Bulawayo yesterday morning alerted the opposition political parties of a voting process which has kicked off without ZEC officials and polling agents.
I am appalled by the incompetence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission led by Judge President Mrs Priscilla Chigumba who has proved to be unprofessional and not fit to run a free and fair election in the country.
This is an insult to the people of Zimbabwe who want to see an eligitimately and democratically elected government.
The reports from ZRP Ross Camp were postal voting was taking place without Zimbabwe Election Commission officials election agents and observers leaves a lot to be desired.
The Zimbabwe Election Commission went ballistic yesterday throwing tantrums at the social media accusing it of cheap propaganda that the postal voting was on before it even verified that the election was taking place.
Zimbabweans are commited to make the country work again but there is sham election that cannot be achieved. It affects the quality of the government which the people are electing. How will he fight corruption if an election is stolen in such an embarrassing manner. The opposition is right by forcing the government to adhere to election reforms as enshrined in the constitution.
We are not yet committed to fighting corruption in government as it is stemming from high authorities. This is hazardous to our future elections. I thought Emmerson Munangagwa was sincere and serious in fighting corruption but it looks like nothing has changed its justa pie in the air. This is a clear indication that Zanu PF government is clueless and can't solve the challenges facing the country. Zimbabwe is a land of opportunities but we dont have the right leadership in place. This is a generational consensus.
Alternatively there is a team of electoral officials from our neighbours Zambia where the Electoral Commission, stakeholders and representatives of the participating political parties are in Dubai monitoring production of the ballot papers and all the printing process.
Can our own Zimbabwe Election Commision draw some crucial lessons from Zambia Electoral Board? Our commission should be reminded that, the time of Rita Makarau is now over. This is not Mugabe's era where he could rig an election willy nilly.
There were no any polling agents representing the different parties and election observers. This is where the system is flawed.
In a normal election polling agents are deployed within their respective constituencies and they vote on the same day like everybody. No polling agent is deployed outside their respective constituencies.
During a voting process they can vote on the same day as simple a's all that. So any early voting before the actual date of the election like the postal voting should be conducted by Zimbabwe Election Commission officials, monitored by election agents and observers.
The monitors who were monitoring postal voting at ZRP Ross Camp in Bulawayo have picked irregularities and voting has to come to a stand still with political parties expressing their anger on important issues that there were no Zimbabwe Election Commission official's to officiate the process. The process was being officiated by senior police officers.
There was no voter's roll and the voters names were being picked from a list of names from the police station. A postal vote is supposed to be between Zimbabwe Election Commission official and the voter of which this something else. One cannot rule out rigging under such an environment.
Another serious irregularity was that there were no polling agents representing political parties for transparency sake. Mr Ncube the Zimbabwe Election Commission Provincial Election Officer was not even aware that the election was underway in his own province and had to confirm with Harare Office.
The spin doctors are trying to spin it but proving to be a hard nut to crack and difficult. ZEC has dismally failed to deliver a free, fair and credible election. A vote of no confidence should be passed to Zimbabwe Election Commission because it has exhibited its lack of will power to deliver a credible election.
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Co-operation should be disbanded as it has gave a biased and conflicting statement where it has changed its position on this postal voting. They have no shame at all. They have changed their statement within 8hrs and did not even bother to apologize or explain to the people. Zimbabwe Election Commission thinks its their right to so whatever they want. Mr Utoile Silaigwana should be challenged on why the voting took place without Zimbabwe Election Commission officials.
There has been an earthquake at ZRP Ross Camp in Bulawayo which has struck a quarter at the Ritchter scale. Judge President Priscilla is failing to read the changing times.
Contacts
Facebook - Leonard Koni
WhatsApp - +27747402042
Twitter - @Leokoni
Email - konileonard606@Gmail.com.
I am appalled by the incompetence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission led by Judge President Mrs Priscilla Chigumba who has proved to be unprofessional and not fit to run a free and fair election in the country.
This is an insult to the people of Zimbabwe who want to see an eligitimately and democratically elected government.
The reports from ZRP Ross Camp were postal voting was taking place without Zimbabwe Election Commission officials election agents and observers leaves a lot to be desired.
The Zimbabwe Election Commission went ballistic yesterday throwing tantrums at the social media accusing it of cheap propaganda that the postal voting was on before it even verified that the election was taking place.
Zimbabweans are commited to make the country work again but there is sham election that cannot be achieved. It affects the quality of the government which the people are electing. How will he fight corruption if an election is stolen in such an embarrassing manner. The opposition is right by forcing the government to adhere to election reforms as enshrined in the constitution.
We are not yet committed to fighting corruption in government as it is stemming from high authorities. This is hazardous to our future elections. I thought Emmerson Munangagwa was sincere and serious in fighting corruption but it looks like nothing has changed its justa pie in the air. This is a clear indication that Zanu PF government is clueless and can't solve the challenges facing the country. Zimbabwe is a land of opportunities but we dont have the right leadership in place. This is a generational consensus.
Alternatively there is a team of electoral officials from our neighbours Zambia where the Electoral Commission, stakeholders and representatives of the participating political parties are in Dubai monitoring production of the ballot papers and all the printing process.
Can our own Zimbabwe Election Commision draw some crucial lessons from Zambia Electoral Board? Our commission should be reminded that, the time of Rita Makarau is now over. This is not Mugabe's era where he could rig an election willy nilly.
There were no any polling agents representing the different parties and election observers. This is where the system is flawed.
During a voting process they can vote on the same day as simple a's all that. So any early voting before the actual date of the election like the postal voting should be conducted by Zimbabwe Election Commission officials, monitored by election agents and observers.
The monitors who were monitoring postal voting at ZRP Ross Camp in Bulawayo have picked irregularities and voting has to come to a stand still with political parties expressing their anger on important issues that there were no Zimbabwe Election Commission official's to officiate the process. The process was being officiated by senior police officers.
There was no voter's roll and the voters names were being picked from a list of names from the police station. A postal vote is supposed to be between Zimbabwe Election Commission official and the voter of which this something else. One cannot rule out rigging under such an environment.
Another serious irregularity was that there were no polling agents representing political parties for transparency sake. Mr Ncube the Zimbabwe Election Commission Provincial Election Officer was not even aware that the election was underway in his own province and had to confirm with Harare Office.
The spin doctors are trying to spin it but proving to be a hard nut to crack and difficult. ZEC has dismally failed to deliver a free, fair and credible election. A vote of no confidence should be passed to Zimbabwe Election Commission because it has exhibited its lack of will power to deliver a credible election.
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Co-operation should be disbanded as it has gave a biased and conflicting statement where it has changed its position on this postal voting. They have no shame at all. They have changed their statement within 8hrs and did not even bother to apologize or explain to the people. Zimbabwe Election Commission thinks its their right to so whatever they want. Mr Utoile Silaigwana should be challenged on why the voting took place without Zimbabwe Election Commission officials.
There has been an earthquake at ZRP Ross Camp in Bulawayo which has struck a quarter at the Ritchter scale. Judge President Priscilla is failing to read the changing times.
Contacts
Facebook - Leonard Koni
WhatsApp - +27747402042
Twitter - @Leokoni
Email - konileonard606@Gmail.com.
Source - Leonard Koni
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