It is against this framework that the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) considers the ongoing Mobile Voter Registration as an important process in the electoral processes of Zimbabwe. The previous process was widely condemned by CSOs including ZESN and even the ZEC Chairperson.
ZESN notes that this time the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has made efforts to publicize the process and engage various stakeholders to find ways of mitigating the previous challenges.
ZESN sent teams in all the provinces to observe this important process, to ensure processes allow for free participation, to increase citizens’ confidence in the process and detect any challenges and problems in order to proffer recommendations.
Our preliminary findings show varying levels of interests with some centres facing more numbers than can be managed in three days allocated. This means some centres will fail to register the numbers of people wishing to do so within the three days allocated to a particular centre. For example, in Zvimba South at Trelawney Training Centre, on the second day ZESN observed an estimate of 500 people who were in the queue seeking various documentation including registering to vote. In Mutoko District, ZESN teams visited Chisambiro, Chidye, Kamwazva and Ushamba Primary Schools where long queues were also observed. The teams reported that the process was very slow and noted that most of the youths wanted to be issued with birth certificates and identity cards before they could register. Women with babies were also seen attempting to take birth certificates for their children.
In Harare, long queues were also observed at Huruyadzo Shopping Centre in St Marys and Mai Musodzi Hall in Mbare, potential registrants continued to lament the slowness of the pace at which people were being processed in these centres. There was a problem between the allocations of the ZEC personnel to the potential registration such as Cranborne with 10 personnel yet the demand was not as high as areas stated above. ZEC urges ZEC to deploy more personnel in high density areas and certain rural areas with higher population.
Most of the people who spoke to ZESN stated that the process was very frustrating; with some claiming that they have been standing in the queue for more than seven hours. Some also said they had travelled long distances to come to the centre. With regards to the issue of aliens, ZESN noted that potential registrants were referred back to the RG’s office in their districts in order for them to address certain issues such as long birth certificates with no ID numbers and in some instances they were asked to surrender their original id cards and re-join the queue to get new ids, then wait to collect new ones and then re-join a queue to register to vote. ZESN notes with concern that the process so far is not fully decentralized to allow them to deal with all enquiries. While in other areas short queues were observed for example in Bubi at Lortandale Primary.
At Mpopoma Community Hall in Bulawayo, ZESN also received reports of some people who voted in the 2008 elections but could not find their names on the voters’ roll. These people were allowed to register again.
ZESN teams saw isolated flyers and posters in the various wards they visited. This could be attributed to the ZEC’s two voter educators who were deployed in each ward to mobilise and educate the communities. The teams also noted that some of the voter educators were also assisting potential voters to register at some of the centres.
ZESN urges ZEC to find ways of expediting the processing of aspiring registrants. In addition ZEC also find ways of ensuring quick resolution on challenges by people labeled ‘aliens’ so that they are not disenfranchised. We also urge ZEC to seriously note and consider other concerns that are being raised by various CSOs and other stakeholders and ensure that the process is credible.
ZESN remains committed to credible elections and to observing all the electoral processes leading to the 2013 Harmonized Elections in a non-partisan manner.
Post published in: News