I urge all Zimbabwean citizens living abroad to be united. They should take part in the forthcoming elections and provisions should be in place for an electoral register to be established in every diplomatic mission where votes will be cast in person.
External voting is regarded by many as part of the citizen’s right in a world where living abroad forms part of the life of millions of people and where the exercise of rights and the enforcement of laws are becoming more transnational everyday. Eligibility to vote should be linked to citizenship hence refugees and asylum seekers should be accorded full rights of citizenship and political participation including membership of political parties, the right to stand as candidates for election, access to election information and enfranchisement.
Countries that host foreign nationals and embassies should see to it that it is their responsibilities pertaining to security, prevention of fraud, electoral registration, election campaigning, voter information, education and the cost of external voting programmes.
Zimbabweans living abroad have done much and are still doing a lot by sustaining the socio-economic and political status of the country in a number of ways. They also need to decide their destiny through voting.
The globalisation of political, personal and professional life, the spread of democracy throughout the world and an increase in migration have all contributed to an increasing interest in voting rights for refugees, diplomats, members of the armed forces serving overseas and other people who are temporarily or permanently absent from their own country. – Pythias Makonese, by e-mail
Post published in: Letters to the Editor