Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Chairperson Justice Rita Makarau says they are looking to register more than seven million voters during the Bio-metric Voter Registration process which is expected to start before the end of 2017
Although a date for the commencement of the registration is yet to be set, Makarau said the commission is looking to register as many voters as possible ahead of the 2018 watershed elections.
Makarau also said they have paid the required 50% deposit for the supply of BVR kits to Laxton Group and are looking into means of importing the equipment into the country.
“We have acquired the 50% deposit that was required by the supplier as down payment before the kits were supplied into the country.
“We are now holding very serious deliberations with the supplier to find out when the first delivery of the kits will be brought into the country.
“We are firmly on the road to BVR and the money is available to conduct the process,” said Makarau.
Meanwhile, ZEC has completed the mapping out exercise which will determine the location of registration centres which may ultimately become polling stations for the 2018 harmonised elections.
In the mapping exercise, 9 663 voter registration centres have been identified in the 10 provinces of the country.
Makarau said all the identified centres will be able to cope with the registration exercise for all persons who are eligible to vote with the deployment of the 3 000 BVR kits that are expected to be delivered by the contracted company.
According to the ZEC chairperson, each BVR kit has the capacity to register over 6 000 people and the process should be completed well ahead of the harmonized elections which are due in August 2018.
She explained that the diaspora vote is not possible in the 2018 elections as it is not provided for under the current laws.
ZEC has been holding meetings with all stakeholders, including political parties, to iron out any misgivings and doubts ahead of the voter registration process and harmonized elections in 2018.
