Voters’ roll still a state secret

Analysts say this flies in the face of the roadmap to free and fair elections as major stakeholders in future polls lack the requisite knowledge, cannot plan properly and run the danger of being excluded. It also provides opportunities for large scale rigging.

Investigations by The Zimbabwean revealed that ZEC is yet to be given the electronic and hard copy voters roll by Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede, who has presided over national polls for more than 20 years and is accused of favouring Zanu (PF).

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act (Chapter 2.12) prescribes that ZEC should delimit constituency boundaries, prepare for and conduct elections and direct and control voter registration.

The body also has the mandate to compile voters’ rolls and conduct voter education, in addition to ensuring that elections are held freely, fairly and transparently. But analysts say this is impossible given that the commission does not have access to the voters’ roll.

‘‘The voters’ roll is very difficult to access even though it is supposed to be a public document. This is suicidal,’’ Tawanda Chimhini, the Election Resource Centre Director told The Zimbabwean.

‘‘ZEC is treading in the dark. There is need for transparency,’’ he added.

In the absence of a comment from Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T National Spokesperson, a Harvest House official who declined to be named said his party did not have the roll, while Dumiso Dabengwa, the Zapu Interim President, also confirmed that his party was operating in the dark.

‘‘We have been hunting for the roll for a long time. Mudede should explain why he is denying us access to the document. We will be meeting with ZEC soon and we are going to raise that concern,’’ said Dabengwa.

Rugare Gumbo, the Zanu (PF) Secretary for Information and Publicity, also claimed they did not have the roll, but analysts say this is highly unlikely as Mudede is their man.

‘‘We also don’t have the voters’ roll. However, we know where to get it when we want it. Is it not common knowledge that the Registrar General is currently the custodian of the document?’’ said Gumbo.

A recent Supreme Court ruling that President Robert Mugabe should hold by-elections in 33 constituencies that have been vacant for some time. There is fear that if the by-elections take place, Zanu (PF) could use them to justify a snap general election.

Gumbo said his party was yet to make a decision on the by-elections, but insisted that the next municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections would be held without a new voters’ roll or a new constitution. A draft constitution, that many hope will be used as the basis for the next elections, was recently completed, with the two MDC parties led by Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube immediately endorsing it. Zanu (PF) is still dithering amid reported resistance from party hardliners.

‘‘We are definitely going to hold the next general elections without a new constitution or a fresh voters’ roll; they are taking too long and wasting our time. We are anxious to get out of this discordant GNU,’’ Gumbo said.

John Makumbe, a political scientist, said Zanu (PF) was gunning for an election without a clean voters’ roll as it would give them the chance to rig the results.

‘‘If Zanu (PF) gets its way, there will be massive rigging. There will be absolute mayhem. People who are 150 years old and long dead will vote,’’ said Makumbe.

He said the current ‘‘shambolic roll’’ should be discarded and a new one compiled after the national census that will take place next month, as the population survey would provide reliable information to guide constituency delimitation.

Chimhini, however, says what is important is to ensure that already registered voters have access to the roll and potential ones educated on how to go and register.

‘‘There is need to post rolls at polling stations and invite people to come and examine them. After that, it’s back to the drawing board for those responsible for compiling the roll, but the process will only be complete if people are given a chance to verify their details,’’ he said.

He added that embarking on a new voter compilation exercise might expose potential voters to political violence and force them to shun the process.

The Interim President of Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn, Simba Makoni, said his party had an old voters' roll that he described as ''useless''.

''What we have is the 2008 voters roll but that is of no use because, as the Registrar General claims, they are constantly updating it. Many things have happened since 2008 and the roll should constantly capture that,'' said Makoni.