Parliamentarians have accused government of lacking the will power to capacitate the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to discharge its constitutional duties ahead of the do or die harmonized elections.
Presenting the parliamentary portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs report on the petition by the Election Resource Centre, committee chairperson, Fortune Chasi noted that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is not getting adequate funding from government which he said is curtailing the electoral mother body from discharging its constitutional duties.
“The major challenge faced by ZEC in implementing its constitutional mandate was found out to be the issue of funding.
“For instance, the biometric voter registration kits were only acquired this year making it impossible for ZEC to conduct voter registration in terms of the Constitution.
“The issue of funding notwithstanding, the Committee also noted the absence of will power by the Executive to support ZEC in discharging its mandate,” said Chasi.
The Committee called on political institutions to educate their stakeholders on tolerance adding that the electoral mother body needs to frequently communicate with the public to cultivate trust and confidence.
“ZEC needs to communicate with the public frequently using as many channels of communication as possible, this will cultivate trust and confidence from the public,” added Chasi.
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change have pushed for electoral reforms arguing against the employment of military officers by ZEC.
Presenting his party’s 10 peace demands, MDC-T President Nelson Chamisa said, “The Constitution of Zimbabwe makes it clear that ZEC is an independent institution wholly autonomous from government.
“However, we note with the concern the high number of former officers from our military who are part of the ZEC secretariat.”
Chamisa also queried pictures of ZEC chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba who was seen in the company of advisor to the President, Christopher Mutsvangwa while in Russia saying this did not do well for the integrity of ZEC.
“We have also seen the ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba in the company of members of a political party in a recent trip to observe Russia’s elections. This does not bode well for the integrity of ZEC, particularly on the eve of a watershed election,” said Chamisa.
