ZEC urged to reconsider the number of voter registration days

Grace Moyo

Election Resource Centre (ERC) is appealing to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to extend the on-going  voter registration blitz. 

ZEC is currently conducting a 10-day voter registration blitz that started on Sunday the 12th of March and is expected to end on the 21st of March. However the exercise has been fraught with challenges that include a painstakingly slow process due to shortage of BVR machines, long distances to registration centres, breaking down of the machines, lack of access to information and unfriendly weather, among other challenges.

Having acknowledged some of the challenges, ZEC remains tight-lipped on a possible extension of the current blitz.

In a preliminary statement seen by Community Podium, ERC noted that the 10 days for the blitz were inadequate to ensure all those eligible to vote get registered. 

“We urge the ZEC to increase the number of days and voter registration centres before the President proclaims  the election date,” said ERC.

 ERC further notes that the number of registration centres is only a quarter of the number of polling stations in the country and that those who wish to transfer have to trave long distances to do so. Bulawayo  South, Cowdray Park, Kadoma  Central, Mbare and Muzvezve were listed as some constituencies characterised by long distances.

 “These centres are insufficient as potential voters and those who want to change polling stations will have to travel a considerable distance to reach these designated registration centres.”

After the blitz, ZEC will open the voters roll for public inspection.

Election Resource Centre (ERC) is a think tank and advocacy organization on electoral and democracy issues in Zimbabwe.