Scores of citizens missing on the voters’ roll

Grace Moyo

The voters’ roll inspection exercise that commenced on the 27th of May has brewed a shocker for many voters who insist they registered to vote but their names are not  on the voters’ roll at inspection centres.

Some citizens say they can still see their registration details on the USSD platform but  cannot find those details in the voters’ rolls availed at inspection centres, while some say even their details on the USSD platform have been inexplicably wiped off.

The development has alarmed citizens who are looking for answers from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commisdion which has so far remained mum.

“Zec should say something, a statement from them is overdue as this has created panic among the electorate,” said Joseph Ncube of Dete who did not find his name in the voters’ roll.

Zec has not directly responded to the issues raised by the public but issued a statement announcing the voters’ roll inspection’s extension by one day. The exercise was initially supposed to run from May the 27th to the 31st of May.

“The voters’ roll inspection exercise has been extended to 1 June 2023. ZEC is calling upon members of the public to visit inspection centres where they indicated they will vote at only and not at any inspection centre,” said Zec.

Prominent political figures have not been spared by the confusion.

Bulawayo Central Member of Parliament, Nicola Watson is one of the people missing on the voters’ roll and she took to microblogging cite Twitter to express her dismay.

“I went to check my name on the voters roll at Christ the King and my name is not there yet 3 of those who live at my address are ⁦@ZECzim⁩ are you serious how does a sitting Mp not appear on the voters roll.” 

CCC Vice President, Welshman Ncube said he can no longer find his name which had been there a month ago.

“Today, I went to check my name at the Burnside tent polling station where I always vote. Am NOT on that roll. I checked on the ZEC electronic roll and their system says my details can not be found. This is in spite of the fact that when I last checked last month my name was there,” tweeted Ncube.

In Victoria Falls, many could not find their names. Some residents in Ward 7 of Victoria Falls say the *265# platform shows that they are in ward 7 but when they went over to inspect physically they found that they are in ward 8. The Zec officers could not give a satisfactory answer for the discrepancy. The affected people were advised to travel 100 km to the registration centre in Hwange to have their issues looked into.

“I went to the polling station where I have always voted over the years in Ward 7 but could not find my name there. After hopping from station to station, I found my name in Ward 8, some distance from where I stay,” said one resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Victoria Falls has no registration centre and relies on the Hwange registration centre.

Several voters indicated that they had been moved to other polling stations.

The alleged transfer of voters is at odds with Statutory Instrument 14 of 2023 of the delimitation report which says, “In general, no voters were moved from their polling stations. Registered voters in each ward and constituency will vote at their usual polling stations although their ward number or name of constituency may have changed.”

According to Section 35 (2) of the Electoral Act, the onus is on Zec to give notice to voters on such changes as transfer of polling stations.

It has been an erratic start to voter inspection characterised by delays, apathy and citizens missing their names on the roll.

On the first day, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission issued a pre-emptive apology for an anticipated delay at some voter inspection centres due to what it called “logistical and unforseen challenges.” The electoral body went on to say it would consider extending the voters’ roll inspection days beyond 31st May when the exercise is supposed to end.

In Lupane, all Lupane Local Board and Kusile Rural District Council wards did not receive the voters’ roll on the first day, which means Zec already owes the affected citizens at least one more day of voter inspection.

The main opposition CCC said it sent a delegation to Zec for redress of the anomalies unearthed by the voter inspection exercise.

“The CCC has deployed a high level delegation to urgently engage Zec at its offices this afternoon about anomalies arising from the voters’ roll inspection process…The voters’ roll is a red line issue,” said Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere.