Opposition Parties Slam Zimbabwe Electoral Commission For Voter Registration Dereliction
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission boss told Studio Seven that the electoral body is failing to register voters because of financial constraints.
WASHINGTON DC — The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission revealed earlier this week that it was failing to honor its mandate of registering voters around the year in line with the law due to financial limitations. But opposition parties are firing back, accusing the ruling Zanu PF of deliberately compromising the electoral body for its own benefit. ZEC has always come under attack from the opposition for colluding with the ruling Zanu PF to disenfranchise voters to boost the party’s numbers. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was brought into existence on February 1, 2005, in conformity with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act after a constitutional amendment was passed which, among other things, abolished the Electoral Supervisory Commission and reestablished the ZEC. Zimbabweans approved a new constitution in 2013 that, among other changes, introduced a raft of changes to the electoral act, including the introduction of electronic voting and registration but ZEC has yet to effect these changes. Studio Seven reporter Ntungamili Nkomo reached People’s Democratic Party official Edwin Ndlovu and MDC-T deputy spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo for perspective. Honorable Khumalo kicks off the discussion. She said: “Surely this country has money. The excuse that is being made by ZEC and (Rita) Makarau is a fallacy is lie it’s not true. It’s a way for Zanu PF to try and rig these elections because we are all aware that ZEC is an appendage of Zanu PF.” Ndlovu concurred. He said they know very well that they work under partisan lines and that the people who intend to vote are youths who want to change for change. He added: “Since ZEC is working under Zanu PF they will only instruct ZEC to register people when they drive around and tell their supporters to register.” He said they were worried because they can tell that ZEC is partisan.