Zec preparedness questioned
Sibahle Ndlovu
The electorate in Matabeleland have questioned the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (Zec) preparedness and capacity to hold the upcoming 2023 harmonised elections following anomalies that have affected the flow of various election processes since the beginning of the year.
Scores of registered voters could not find their names on the voters roll, a development which Zec argues could be reflecting changes brought about by the delimitation exercise carried out last year and, not an issue of incompetency.
The electorate who feel Zec can do more to address the electorate on concerns raised have said lack of communication could result in voter apathy.
Speaking during This Morning on Asakhe, a Twitter Space hosted by Cite on Wednesday one of the participants Tarie-Eva said, as a person with disability, it is difficult for her to move around polling stations checking her name on the voters roll, therefore, it is important that the commission provides adequate information on electoral processes.
“I don’t know how we can be ready for an election when we are still moving around from one polling station to another trying to look for our names on the voters roll. I also feel Zec did not do justice in explaining the delimitation issue and how it affects polling stations for the electorate. People are now relying on word of mouth for information on how to address anomalies on the voters roll, something Zec is mandated to do.
Zec is not doing enough to address concerns on various aspects of People with Disabilities. At the end of the day as a person with a disability I will stay at home because my issues regarding accessibility are not addressed,” she said.
Tarie-Eva is one of many people with disabilities who have to depend on others for assistance during the electoral process which affects her effective civic participation.
During the ongoing voters roll inspection she had to rely on her mother to go and check her name at the nearest polling station as she had a puncture on her wheelchair.
“In 2018 my polling station was close to my home. I did not need any assistance, I just wheeled myself to go and cast my vote. Now, when I checked my details on the *265# code, I found that I had been moved to a new polling station which was not even there in the previous election and in the 2022 by-elections. When I went to check for my name I discovered that the area is not accessible, it’s bushy and I had a puncture on one of my wheels meaning that I had to ask my mom to take my ID and verify for me. I now have a concern as to how I will vote in an area that is not accessible to me?”
Another Participant, Antonella Ree Nare pointed out that while the electorate might be ready for the elections, the confusion around disappearance of names from the voters roll could not be written off.
“I would say that the electorate is more than ready for the elections but the anomalies that we are seeing with the voters roll have to be addressed. It’s not only a matter of extending inspection days but also coming up with sound ways of dealing with the issues raised. If issues raised by the electorate are brushed aside, it then makes us the electorate, to question if the elections are going to be free and credible? Some are even wondering if all the anomalies are going to be fixed before the elections and if Zec does not address the issue there will be serious voter apathy,” lamented Nare.
Constantine Mpofu of Matobo said the level of seriousness and commitment by Zec on managing this year’s election is a cause for concern following lack of adequate resources to conduct the ongoing inspection of the voters roll.
“People are ready but Zec seems not to be ready for the elections. A lot of people are now confused and Zec is not releasing enough information to assist the electorate. There is a lot of confusion emanating from the difference in information found on the *265# USSD code and physical polling stations and in rural areas people are now having to travel long distances to just verify information on the physical voters roll.
“Also, from the polling stations I visited, I noticed that Zec officials were using exercise books to record information of individuals who had queries. This speaks to the level of seriousness and commitment on Zec’s part as an institution tasked with managing electoral processes,” said Mpofu.
