Zanu PF Mazowe South legislator, Honorable Fortune Chasi, has called for speedy implementation of electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 elections.
Electoral reforms, which regional bodies such as SADC, AU, Civil Society Organizations and the opposition have since called for, remain a hot “potato” with government adamant to implement the reforms.
“There is a lot of interest in ensuring that electoral laws are brought into line with the constitution, Chasi said adding, “The pace need to be hastened given that the elections will be happening next year.”
Speaking on ZiFM show which discussed the Election Resource Centre (ERC) petition on electoral reforms on Wednesday night, Chasi said elections must be held under a proper legal framework.
“The elections need to have a proper legal framework to ensure that the very relevant complaints that are being made are addressed and we have a credible election that is acknowledge by everyone,” Chasi said.
Chasi who is also the Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs said electoral laws are significant as they form the cornerstone of a democracy.
“Electoral laws are very important. They are the foundation of democracy. It’s something that we need to take seriously and we must work on it. We have a duty to align all the laws,” he said.
Executive Director of the Election Resource Centre, Tawanda Chimhini, expressed concern over the snail pace the government has adopted on electoral reforms.
“Time is running out, that window of opportunity that we have had is closing…With electoral reforms it is not about just putting them on paper…we need to allow time for them to be operationalized. Doing all these reforms on the eve of the elections is inconsequential,” Chimhini said.
He added: “Processes leading up to the elections must be democratic, to be accessible to everybody and for everyone to freely participate in those processes way in advance of the election date.”
An identified citizen who communicated through Whatsapp said reforms must be implemented first.
“Let’s not rush for elections and put our house in order first a transitional authority is the way forward. SADC and AU and us the voters said it so why get into elections that will produce a result that is not credible,” the citizen said.
ERC Petition
The ERC in 2015 partnered with 14 civil society organisations to petition Parliament of Zimbabwe to implement electoral reforms in accordance with the 2013 constitution.
The petition highlights eight issues that needs to be addressed ahead of the 2018 elections including the independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), political environment, voter registration and the voter’s roll, voter education, the right to vote, the electoral court, electoral observers and delimitation.
