Election advocacy group the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) to consider a special voter registration exercise following the closure of the voter’s roll after the proclamation date of by-elections by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Electoral Act says the voters’ roll for National Assembly closes two days after the proclamation of the election date by the President and for the local authorities it closes with the occurrence of the vacancy.
While welcoming the proclamation of the date following an indefinite suspension of elections as a way of containing the Covid-19 pandemic, ZESN expressed reservations on the closure of the voter’s roll.
“ZESN is concerned about legal provisions relating to the timing of the closing of voters’ rolls ahead of elections. It is understandable that the voters’ roll has to be closed early enough to ensure ample time for inspection so that candidates can be nominated by registered voters. Nevertheless, this may disenfranchise some potential voters.
“The threat of disenfranchisement is more in relation to local authority by-elections in which the voters’ roll closes with the occurrence of the vacancy. In comparison, for National Assembly by-elections, according to section 26A of the Electoral Act, the voters’ roll closes two days after the proclamation of the election date by the President.
“The legal provision on the voters’ roll means that while people may register to vote now after proclamation, their participation will only be significant for the pending delimitation of electoral boundaries and for the 2023 harmonized elections,” said ZESN
The network called on the Government to reconsider on the provisions of the Electoral Act and consider a special exercise in wards and constituencies were elections are due.
“ZESN implores the government through the Justice Ministry and the Election Management Board to reconsider the provisions on the closure of the voters’ roll for both Local Authority and National Assembly in light of the Statutory Instrument which quarantined democratic rights of citizens for almost 2 years.
“In view of the above, the Network calls upon the government and ZEC to consider a special voter registration exercise, such as a blitz, particularly targeting wards and constituencies where by-elections are due to be held so as to enfranchise as many potential voters as possible, who may not have had the opportunity to register earlier,” said the network
