Fresh Zimbabwe Voter Registration Exercise in Disarray
Mr. Jimmy Jalifu of Marondera, Mashonaland East Province, says most of the registration centres have remained closed since the start of the programme on Monday
HARARE — The fresh mobile voter registration exercise entered its second day Tuesday amid confusion over information regarding registration centres. Several people visiting some registration centres say some of the centers were empty as officers from the Registrar General’s Office failed to turn-up. Mr. Jimmy Jalifu of Marondera, Mashonaland East Province, says all the registration centres have remained closed since the start of the programme on Monday. Many potential voters are complaining of inadequate information regarding this exercise. Although the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is placing advertisements in newspapers highlighting voter registration centres, some people are suggesting that ZEC should deploy more voter educators in each ward instead of two. Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede is urging those willing to register and inspect the voters’ roll to check for details in the press. Mudede says the registration exercise would be district-based because of inadequate resources. Marondera Central legislator, Ian Kay, says the teams allocated to Marondera District are too few to cover the entire population in the three constituencies. In Mashonaland West there was also confusion as officers from the Registrar General’s Office failed to turn up at some of the registration centers as advertised. Centres that had no officers include Ndudza and Strathdon primary schools in Zvimba district. At Trelawney Training Centre, people formed queues to register just as they did at Trelawney and Greycourt primary schools. There was a heavy police presence at the centres. The new constitution provides for at least 30 days of mobile voter registration following which elections should be held.