PRESSURE has intensified on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to bring to book traditional leaders and individuals intimidating voters by demanding to see and recording serial numbers of their voter registration slips.
By VENERANDA LANGA
Parliament also discussed the issue last Wednesday in the National Assembly where opposition MPs demanded that the Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi put an end to the malpractice which is viewed as a way of intimidating voters into voting for the ruling Zanu PF party.
MDC-T legislator Nomathemba Ndlovu demanded that Ziyambi explain government policy with regards to people who are going around collecting voter registration serial numbers from the public, infringing voters’ rights to privacy.
But, the Justice minister said it was the responsibility of ZEC and the ZRP to stop the practice.
He said the problem might be that there was inadequate voter education conducted by ZEC.
“The process of voter registration is conducted by ZEC and before they conduct the process of voter registration, they are supposed to have a programme of voter education, and what I am saying is that the voters have to be educated about the process that they are going through so that they appreciate what has happened and the consequences of what has happened, if any,” Ziyambi said.
“What the MP is referring to is an issue that could have been addressed if everyone involved in the process, be it ZEC, political parties and civic society, undertook the process of voter education because the process of collecting voter registration slips does not impact in any way the voting process or the electoral process.”
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Glen View North MP Fani Munengami insisted that if the Justice minister did not resolve the issue, it might result in disputed elections.
“I said that we engaged ZEC and we agreed that those who are not comfortable with this situation should engage those who are doing this to stop the practice. ZEC is supposed to carry out the campaigns and should lead the process in educating the people, that if there are people who are doing certain practices that might affect the credibility of elections, they should publicise this,” Ziyambi replied.
Harare Central MP Murisi Zwizwai said the leadership of Zanu PF was responsible for the practice and they were the ones sending people door to door taking down their voter registration slip serial numbers, which is something unlawful.
The Elections Resource Centre (ERC) in their statement yesterday said the continued demand for voter registration slips’ serial numbers was being perpetrated by traditional leaders and Zanu PF supporters in areas such as Masvingo, Zaka, Bikita, Chivi, Mwenezi, Gutu and Chiredzi.
In some areas, the book where serial numbers are being recorded is called “bhuku reupenyu” (book of life) meaning if your name is not found there, you may not receive food aid or government farming inputs.
MPs said that the recording of serial numbers was happening in some parts of Harare and in Mutasa Central, Trevor Saruwaka (MDC-T)’s constituency.
“ZEC must immediately instruct the ZRP to investigate and arrest offenders associated with demand for serial numbers and put an immediate stop to the voter registration exercise in areas affected by demand for serial numbers until a conducive environment is certain,” the ERC said.
ZEC acting chairperson, Emmanuel Magade was not reachable yesterday. But last week ZEC commissioner, Joyce Kazembe and the police told a local radio station that it was illegal for anyone other than the electoral body to demand the registration slips.
