The Election Resource Centre (ERC) says it is targetting vote pledges who will take up the voter registration exercise while all election processes are suspended due to COVID-19 induced lockdowns
This follows last year’s suspension of all election-related activities by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) as the government moved in to curtail the spread of the COVID-19, ZEC did not provide timelines and guidelines on when elections would return.
Although the country has al but returned normalcy following the relaxation of COVID-19 regulations, ZEC announced when it will return and retain all electoral processes.
In this regard., the ERC said it is coming up with a #PledgetoRegisterZW Campaign which will run online while encouraging people to pledge to register to vote once electoral activities resume and seek to reverse the negative impact of voter apathy by providing safe platforms for electoral engagement even under COVID-19 lockdowns.
”The #PledgetoVoteZW campaign provides a gateway for citizens to make a commitment to register to vote while electoral activities are suspended by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission,” ERC Legal and Advocacy Officer Takunda Tsunga noted.
to carry out the program, the ERC will contact pledgers occasionally to remind them of the status of electoral activities and award them the opportunity to register via the ERC Shuttle Service.
Additionally, those under 18 will be contacted on their 18th birthday and the ERC will help them go through the registration process.
Tsunga added that “The pledge has proven to be an effective tool to engage citizens, especially youths, and has shown that with new and innovative ways to engage citizens, participation increases.”
