Pupurai Togarepi
The Zimbabwe Diaspora Initiative, a non-partisan group of Zimbabweans living abroad who are interested in participating in Zimbabwe’s national elections, is concerned by recent remarks by Zanu PF’s Parliamentary Chief Whip, Honourable Pupurai Togarepi. Honourable Togarepi is reported to have said adequate reforms had been made in the Electoral Amendment Bill and suggestions for further reforms would be politicking and that the ruling party would not be hoodwinked into debating foreign-sponsored agendas (Electoral Amendment Bill riles opposition -Newsday Zimbabwe).
The Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative reiterates an earlier call that the Electoral Amendment Bill is flawed without inclusion of the diaspora vote. Honourable Togarepi needs to be reminded that the Diaspora Vote for Zimbabweans living abroad is something that Zimbabweans living outside Zimbabwe have long shown interest in, and His Excellency, President Mnangagwa had hoped would happen in 2023 if his 2018 promise to Zimbabweans living in the United States of America should be taken seriously (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onN0bCx3TI0)
In addition to expressing his wish for Zimbabweans in the diaspora to be able to vote in 2023, the President has expressed satisfaction with the contribution made to the Zimbabwean economy by the citizens living in the Diaspora. In an article titled None but ourselves, published in the Sunday Mail of 20 March 2022, the President acknowledged Diaspora Zimbabweans “remain connected to, and engaged with their homeland”, appreciated the Diaspora remittances which had surpassed the $1 billion mark, making the Zimbabwean Diaspora community “a veritable factor in national development, indeed a force for greater good ” These Diaspora based citizens were, according the President, “equal to, and just as important and as deserving” as their counterparts who are back in Zimbabwe. (https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/engaging-zimbabwes-diaspora-community-for-national-development)
It is, therefore, surprising to hear Honourable Togarepi suggest that issues that Diaspora based citizens’ concerns with the shortcomings of the Electoral Amendment Bill are mere politicking and a foreign agenda.
The Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative has engaged all political parties represented in Parliament over the need for the Diaspora vote, and being the ruling party’s Chief Whip in Parliament, Honourable Togarepi has received correspondence from us alongside other Chief Whips. We have made it clear to all parties that we will campaign against legislators who speak against the Diaspora vote. Furthermore, we have requested President Mnangagwa not to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill into law if it does not accommodate Diaspora voting.
For further details, please contact Padmore Kufa, Spokesperson of the Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative on +61 414 477 659 or email us on info@zimdiasporavote.org
cc: Hon. Temba Mliswa, Independent MP, Parliament of Zimbabwe
Zanu PF Chief Whip, Parliament of Zimbabwe
MDC Alliance Chief Whip, Parliament of Zimbabwe
CCC Chief Whip, Parliament of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Elections Commission (ZEC)
Zimbabwe Elections Support Network
SADC
SADC Parliamentary Forum
African Union
Pan African Parliament
United Nation
International Parliamentary Union