Call for more voter registration centres
TATENDA CHIKARA IN MASVINGO
Villagers from rural Chivi and Zaka districts in Masvingo Province have pleaded with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to set up more voter registration centres in the areas, a move which will result in many registering to vote in the forthcoming harmonised elections.
The villagers said those who registered in the last voter registration exercise were forced to walk more than 15 kilometres to go and register. Some were forced to fork out US$6 to go and register at the growth points.
ZEC will have its final mobile biometric voter registration blitz from this coming Sunday. The exercise will run up to March 21 before undertaking various other activities including opening of voters roll for public inspection, which will lead up to elections scheduled for July or August.
Speaking to Business Times a Shokoni villager in Chivi said, many were finding it hard to part with their little money.
“It’s expensive for us to go and register to vote. For example, villagers from Shokoni and Chomuruvati need something like US$6 to get to the growth point for registration.
“We will be grateful if ZEC can set up more centres during the blitz voter registration as it will assist in making sure everyone gets a chance to vote in this year’s elections,” a Shokoni villager said.
Another villager from Mapuvire village in Chivi who also preferred anonymity said despite ZEC bringing in new centres to the people, voter education was key to ensuring villagers understood their constitutional right to register and vote.
“What is important is that ZEC should also educate people about their constitutional right to vote. The people need to be well informed of such important things,” the villager said.
In Zaka district, councillor for ward 17 Chrispen Watadza confirmed to Business Times that villagers were walking more than 10 kilometres to register to vote urging villagers to take advantage of the blitz registration program.
“Yes it’s true that people are walking long distances to register to vote but many people are so reluctant when the blitz registration program begins. It is important that people do not look at that program with a political eye rather as a constitutional right. Many people are walking distances of over 10 kilometres,” Watadza said.
