Opinion / Columnist
No Excuse for Denying Expats Right to Vote
18 Sep 2011 at 11:14hrs | Views
There is an urgent need for the clarification of confusion caused by contradictory statements by COPAC and the Prime Minister's Office on the subject of the Diaspora Vote.
Recently, COPAC spokesperson, MDC-T's Jessie Majome reportedly said that the constitution was silent about people outside the country, adding that there was also reluctance by partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU for the Diaspora to participate in the process.
"The legislature did not envisage the participation of the people in the Diaspora, so our referendum will not include the people in the Diaspora," said Majome (The Zimbabwean, 'No Vote for Diaspora' 06/09/11).
Also intriguing are media reports that "not a word" of the new constitution has so far been written although Zanu-PF has released its election manifesto giving March 2012 as a deadline for elections.
Last month, Luke Tamborinyoka, the spokesman for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said in statement it was agreed by the principals that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission be tasked with producing a report on the issue of the Diaspora Vote.
In March 2005 Zimbabwe's Supreme Court shuttered hopes of an estimated three million exiles represented by the Diaspora Vote Action Group led by Jefta Madzingo saying there was no merit in their wanting the right to vote.
Calls for the Diaspora Vote (DV) have not been confined to those abroad only. For instance a public meeting of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) held in Harare last month on the Electoral Amendment Bill called for among other things including citizens in the Diaspora to be allowed to vote.
There is need for clarity on this fundamental issue by the GNU rather than leaving people to guess. Expats would be outraged by any acquiescence to the Electoral Amendment Bill which seeks to ensure Mugabe another term of office in the planned 2012 elections.
What lacks merit are the numerous flimsy excuses given by the Mugabe regime to deny exiled Zimbabweans the right to vote.
Firstly, the excuse of lack of funding is not convincing after Zanu-PF reportedly turned down an offer of EU and UN funding for elections. The GNU has not yet clarified if that was its official position because other countries have received funds for elections.
Secondly, Zanu-PF claims that its candidates would need targeted sanctions lifted to enable them campaign abroad is equally unconvincing, because, in the same way those banned individuals are able to travel to and from United Nations conferences abroad, they should be able to make arrangements with host governments to meet their supporters at such neutral UN venues in the US and Europe.
Thirdly, logistical problems are purely imaginary because the same machinery for postal ballots in place at all Zimbabwean embassies should be made available to all foreign based citizens whereby people would simply queue with their passports or IDs to be checked by polling officers before casting their votes.
As for the potential for vote rigging which has been heavily associated with postal ballots could be easily eliminated by using a transparent ballot box placed prominently for election agents, monitors, observers, candidates, and police to see the process.
Furthermore, having the votes counted at each polling station in the presence of election agents, observers, monitors and the media - with results displayed and relayed to Harare immediately at the close of polling like was done in 2008 until the regime reneged could also help.
Exiles are able and willing to volunteer for any roles at such events. There is no justification for continuing to deny exiled Zimbabweans the right to vote as was done in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008 when other countries like Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Iraq facilitate voting by their foreign based nationals.
With possible help from the Commonwealth, the EU and the United Nations, exiled Zimbabweans will be able to organise transparent and credible elections at Zimbabwe's embassies without costing the country's treasury not even a penny or a cent.
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Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Recently, COPAC spokesperson, MDC-T's Jessie Majome reportedly said that the constitution was silent about people outside the country, adding that there was also reluctance by partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU for the Diaspora to participate in the process.
"The legislature did not envisage the participation of the people in the Diaspora, so our referendum will not include the people in the Diaspora," said Majome (The Zimbabwean, 'No Vote for Diaspora' 06/09/11).
Also intriguing are media reports that "not a word" of the new constitution has so far been written although Zanu-PF has released its election manifesto giving March 2012 as a deadline for elections.
Last month, Luke Tamborinyoka, the spokesman for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said in statement it was agreed by the principals that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission be tasked with producing a report on the issue of the Diaspora Vote.
In March 2005 Zimbabwe's Supreme Court shuttered hopes of an estimated three million exiles represented by the Diaspora Vote Action Group led by Jefta Madzingo saying there was no merit in their wanting the right to vote.
Calls for the Diaspora Vote (DV) have not been confined to those abroad only. For instance a public meeting of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) held in Harare last month on the Electoral Amendment Bill called for among other things including citizens in the Diaspora to be allowed to vote.
There is need for clarity on this fundamental issue by the GNU rather than leaving people to guess. Expats would be outraged by any acquiescence to the Electoral Amendment Bill which seeks to ensure Mugabe another term of office in the planned 2012 elections.
Firstly, the excuse of lack of funding is not convincing after Zanu-PF reportedly turned down an offer of EU and UN funding for elections. The GNU has not yet clarified if that was its official position because other countries have received funds for elections.
Secondly, Zanu-PF claims that its candidates would need targeted sanctions lifted to enable them campaign abroad is equally unconvincing, because, in the same way those banned individuals are able to travel to and from United Nations conferences abroad, they should be able to make arrangements with host governments to meet their supporters at such neutral UN venues in the US and Europe.
Thirdly, logistical problems are purely imaginary because the same machinery for postal ballots in place at all Zimbabwean embassies should be made available to all foreign based citizens whereby people would simply queue with their passports or IDs to be checked by polling officers before casting their votes.
As for the potential for vote rigging which has been heavily associated with postal ballots could be easily eliminated by using a transparent ballot box placed prominently for election agents, monitors, observers, candidates, and police to see the process.
Furthermore, having the votes counted at each polling station in the presence of election agents, observers, monitors and the media - with results displayed and relayed to Harare immediately at the close of polling like was done in 2008 until the regime reneged could also help.
Exiles are able and willing to volunteer for any roles at such events. There is no justification for continuing to deny exiled Zimbabweans the right to vote as was done in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008 when other countries like Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Iraq facilitate voting by their foreign based nationals.
With possible help from the Commonwealth, the EU and the United Nations, exiled Zimbabweans will be able to organise transparent and credible elections at Zimbabwe's embassies without costing the country's treasury not even a penny or a cent.
--------------------------
Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Source - Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London
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