(ZESN) has called for a longer voter registration period describing the time allocated as being too short.
ZESN director Rindai Chipfunde-Vava yesterday said the organisation was also deeply concerned that the exercise had not been adequately advertised.
“The Network believes that this time is inadequate and proposes that it be extended to at least four months. The Network is also deeply concerned that the exercise has not been adequately publicised which might result in most of prospective voters being unable to register,” said Chipfunde-Vava in a press statement.
Mobile registration of voters started on Monday 18th June and will continue up to the 17th of August 2007.
“ZESN believes that advertisements in the print media are not an appropriate and sufficient medium of communication of this strategic component of the electoral process. This is especially so when considering that the targeted audience is usually the impoverished peasants who live in remote areas where they have little, if any, access to newspapers or are too poor to afford them,” she added.
The Registrar General has set up a number of registration centres throughout the country. However, according to ZESN, the amount of time spent at some of the centers is so ridiculously short as to render the whole exercise a sham.
“For instance, the Registrar General¢s team will be at Kawondera Primary School and Dzikamidzi Primary School in Zvimba District, for only a day, which makes a mockery of what should be a noble exercise,” said Rindai.
She added that the majority of the teams will spend an average of three days at most of the centres.
The SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections recognise the importance of full participation of citizens in the political process.
Chipfunde- Vava also said that the current situation where a department of the Ministry of Home Affairs conducts voter registration, albeit under the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), wass undesirable and a potential source of electoral disputes.
Mudede was not immediately available for comment yesterday.
Ends//
Post published in: News