The organisation expressed concern that, with a few days to go before the elections, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is yet to supply stakeholders with clean copies of the voters’ roll, yet SADC and AU observers have chosen to remain silent over the issue.
“The issue of the voters’ roll has even become an imperative now in light of questions arising concerning the impartiality and integrity of the observer mission. It is inconceivable to see how the observers will rise above the official statements and views of the institutions that sent them.
“They seem to be paying a lip service the voters’ roll issue or ignoring it altogether. The integrity of an observer mission to a large extent depends on the liberty of the observers to critic, question, and if need be, arrive at different conclusions from others in their interpretation of the obtaining facts prior, during and soon after the elections,” read the statement.
The statement added that the next elections would amount to an exercise in futility in the absence of a “credible, transparent and accessible voters’ roll that is open to challenge”.
“In light of the above, it is therefore shocking that some political analysts are making this issue very light and accusing the MDC of being cry babies because of their complaints regarding the voters’ roll,” read the statement.
Section 21(4) of the Electoral Act states that "within a reasonable period of time after the calling of an election, the Commission shall provide, on payment of the prescribed fee, to every political party that intends to contest the election, and to any observer who requests it, one copy of every voters roll to be used in the election, either in printed or in electronic form as the party or observer may request."
The NGO Forum expressed concern that six weeks after the proclamation of the election date on 13 July, the voters’ roll is still not accessible to stakeholders, thereby creating ground for rigging of elections.
“Furthermore, in the Zimbabwean context where rigging has abounded in the past, it is critically important that parties be given sufficient time to analyse and audit the voters roll,” read the statement.
The statement said ZEC’s credibility has become questionable as a result of its failure to timeously supply stakeholders with copies of the voters’ roll ahead of elections.
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